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SD57 talks school closures
Van Bien, Giscome Elementary included on a plan that looks ahead to 2033-34
A long-range facilities plan for School District 57 recommends the closure of six schools, including Giscome Elementary School, as well as of the Central Interior Distance Education School in the short-term.
meeting, which was held after Citizen
education recently reviewed a 202425 to 2033-34 long range facilities plan at a Jan. 28 committee of the whole meeting.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Province looks to fast-track energy, resource projects
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The BC Government announced at the beginning of February that it would be fast-tracking 18 natural resources projects in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, but it is unclear what the government is doing to speed up the mining and some of the energy projects on its list.
On Feb. 1, Premier David Eby’s office issued a media release outlining BC’s response to Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, two days before Trump announced onemonth reprieve for both countries. Those measures included ordering BC Liquor to stop buying liquor from “red states” and remove them from its retail shelves and directing the provincial government and Crown corporations to prioritize Canadian goods and services. Both of these actions were paused when Trump announced his one-month pause.
The release also indicatedthe government “is assessing private-sector projects worth $20 billion with the goal of getting them approved as quickly as possible and issuing their permits faster.”
“These are expected to create 6,000 jobs in remote and rural communities. In addition, the province has vowed to support and help implement the actions being taken by the federal government,” the release said.
The release did not state what projects were under consideration as part of this endeavour, but The Citizen received a list of 18 projects from a spokesperson from Eby’s office later that same week.
The list is divided into three sections, “clean energy,” “energy security” and “critical minerals.”
The clean energy section is comprised of projects the province had already announced it was moving forward, eight wind power projects, one solar power project and the North Coast transmission line.
Announced in December, the wind
projects are all co-owned by BC First Nations, including one by Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Spanish renewable energy company Ecoener.
The government is allowing these projects and future wind projects to bypass the environmental assessment process.
At the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George back in January, Premier David Eby announced that his government would introduce legislation later this year that would grant the BC Energy Regulator sole permitting authority for the North Coast transmission line, which will twin the existing 500-kilovolt, 450-kilometre line from Prince George to Terrace.
This, he told the forum audience, would help the transmission lines get built sooner and help future natural resource and infrastructure projects dependent on that power to get off the ground more quickly.
On Feb. 6, Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix announced that the legislation would also place future wind and solar projects under the purview of the BC Energy Regulator as well.
“Along with other natural resources
projects, these critical projects have been identified by the Province as priorities that are ready to move forward, with the potential to generate significant employment to support our economy in the face of potential tariffs by the U.S. government,” Dix said in a media release.
However, other than referencing how the transmission line could help new natural resource projects get off the ground more quickly, Dix’s release did not address the original release’s assertion that the government would get the energy security and critical mineral projects off the ground.
The critical mineral projects are:
• Eskay Creek gold and silver mine by Skeena Gold + Silver near Stewart
• Highland Valley copper and molybdenum mine expansion by Teck near Logan Lake
• Red Creek copper and gold mine expansion by Newmont near Stewart
• Mount Milligan copper and gold mine by Centerra Gold near Fort St. James
The energy security projects are:
• Cedar LNG near Kitimat
• Northeast BC Connector by NorthRiver Midstream near Fort St. John
• T-North natural gas pipeline by Enbridge near Fort Nelson
The Citizen asked the government over several days what it was doing to speed up these seven projects but did not receive a response.
Only four of the seven companies whose projects were on the government’s list responded to emails requesting comment.
The Mount Milligan mine has been in production since 2014, said Centerra Gold vice-president of external affairs Karina Briño.
“We are encouraged by province’s approach to streamline the permitting process for our Mount Milligan operations going forward,” Briño said.
“We expect to submit an amendment application in the coming months for permits and expansions related to our ongoing operations. We anticipate a streamlined process with these permits and are committed to collaborating with the province to ensure a successful result.”
CEDAR LNG PARTNERS LP HANDOUT IMAGE
This artist’s rendition shows the proposed Cedar LNG floating natural gas export terminal in Kitimat.
List includes Mount Milligan, Cedar LNG, Eskay Creek
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
On top of that, Briño said Centerra is studying whether it can extend past the mine’s current operational life and it plans to publish an update on that front last this year.
The project was ordered by the province in July 2024 to reduce the risk of wildlife-human interactions after a March inspection “found concerns with the management of wastes that may attract wildlife.”
Dale Steeves, the director of stakeholder relations for Teck, said that Highland Valley is Canada’s largest copper mine and the company is looking for an extension to keep it operating until the mid-2040s.
“The HVC Mine Life Extension Project is undergoing an environmental assessment under the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act,” Steeves said.
“We expect a decision from the (BC Environmental Assessment Office) in mid-2025.
“Proceeding with the extension would mean an estimated US$1.3 billion to $1.4 billion capital investment and is expected to create about 2,900 jobs during the construction phase of the project.
“HVC MLE would allow for the continuation of social and economic benefits of the mine, including supporting over 1,300 direct jobs and an average $490 million in annual GDP, and produce 1.95 million tonnes of copper over the life of the mine.”
Steeves added that the project has received support from the Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly, Lower Nicola Indian Band and the Kanaka Bar Indian Band.
However, the BC government’s site for environmental assessment shows that Stk’emlupsemc te Secwépemc Nation referred the project to the dispute resolution process due to significant differences between the nation’s assessment of the project and the Environmental Assessment Office’s. Under the 2018 Environmental Assessment Act, Indigenous nations can refer matters relating to their right
to be consulted, a minister’s decision to terminate or exempt a project from environmental assessment, a decision made by chief executive assessment officer, the planning process carried out by the chief executive assessment officer, a project’s effects assessment or a decision regarding an environmental assessment certificate application to a dispute resolution facilitator.
By email, NorthRiver Midstream manager of Indigenous and community relations David Markham referred to the company’s webpage for the NEBC Connector and said the information it contained was the extent to which they can comment at this time.
The page says that the project consists of two parallel, small-diameter pipelines stretching 213 kilometres from northwest of Wonowon, BC to western Alberta, carrying natural gas liquids and condensate.
A timeline on that page says that BC granted approval to the project on Jan. 17 and Alberta on Jan. 31.
As for its current status, the page states “NorthRiver is continuing to work in partnership with customers, partners, regulatory authorities and
tree clearing, as well as wildlife monitoring and protection. The timely approval of these permits will help to ensure this project remains on track to hitting its targeted in-service date,” Semko’s statement said.
Cedar LNG bills itself as “the world’s first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project.” Located southwest of Kitimat, the floating facility will take natural gas, cool it to the point where it becomes a liquid and then load it onto ships in Douglas Channel for transport to Asia once it is operations.
BC Environmental Assessment Office information states that Cedar received an environmental assessment certificate in March 2023. However, the company has applied for some changes to the project and a public comment period is currently open until Feb. 27.
Indigenous groups to continue to progress this important project towards a positive final investment decision.”
Construction is currently expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2027. In April 2024, the Environmental Assessment Office issued the project a warning after an inspection found it had “failed to submit necessary reports to the EAO within the given timeframe.”
Enbridge strategist for corporate communications and media relations Jesse Semko said in a statement that the company is looking to start construction on the pipeline by the second quarter of 2025 and start operating it in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The project’s website states that the project consists of 18 kilometres of new pipeline segments in northeast BC “to serve growing regional demand for natural gas and potential west coast LNG exports.”
It received regulatory approval from the federal Canada Energy Regulator on Dec. 19, 2024.
“Some of the provincial permits that either remain or will be required to advance this natural gas transmission project relate to road and land access,
Formerly an underground gold and silver mine around 250 kilometres north of Stewart, Skeena Gold + Silver is trying to revive the Eskay Creek site as an open pit mine. The project’s website says it is in the environmental assessment application stage and hopes to start operating by 2027.
A public comment period for the mine’s environmental assessment certificate application closed on Nov. 14, 2024. Seven people completed a survey during the comment period.
About 300 kilometres northeast of Stewart, Red Chris is a gold and copper mine co-owned by Australian firm Newmont that has operated since 2015. According to the province, Newmont applied last year to convert the open pit mine into an underground operation using block cave methods.
A public comment period will be held sometime this year.
The mine was censured by the province twice last year, once in July after an inspection found spilled fossil fuels near an explosive storage building and another time in August for pumping water out of a diversion ditch and into a tailings impoundment area contrary to the conditions of its environmental certificate.
Newmont, Cedar and Skeena did not respond to requests for comment.
KTW FILE PHOTO
The Highland Valley Copper mine is located near Logan Lake.
American tariff threats add to BC forest sector woes
ISAAC PHAN NAY Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
If U.S. President Donald Trump carries out his threat to introduce tariffs next month, expect even more forest companies to leave the province, forestry experts say.
The threats come as Canadian forestry employers say they’re already grappling with challenges including declining forest health and existing U.S. tariffs of at least 14 per cent.
The economic pressures are spurring a wave of thousands of forestry job losses across the province.
Earlier this month, Trump paused implementation of the 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian non-oil exports for 30 days.
Industry experts say if the tariffs go ahead, even more workers’ jobs are in jeopardy.
“Tariffs aren’t new, but in terms of the impact on our members, it’s terrible,” said Jeff Bromley, Wood Council chair for the United Steelworkers union.
USW represents about 14,000 forestry
The shutdown last year of Canfor operations in Vanderhoof was just the latest sign of issues facing the forestry sector in this part of the province.
workers across the province. Bromley said the tariffs make it harder for forestry companies to make a profit on exports to the United States and thus harder for members to continue to earn a living in their communities.
“We’ve all been lighting our hair on fire since the election in the United States finished and Donald Trump’s tariff threat,” he said.
Canadian forestry employers are heavily dependent on U.S. trade.
According to the BC Lumber Trade Council, about 65 per cent of softwood lumber production in B.C. is exported to the United States.
Broley said increasing tariffs are a big factor pushing big forestry players to close mills and tighten operations in northern B.C., putting jobs in jeopardy.
According to the United Steelworkers, Vancouver-based logging giant Canfor has closed 10 of 13 mills it had in B.C. over the past decade.
Canfor did not respond to requests for comment.
Last fall, hundreds of forestry workers in northern B.C. lost work when Canfor closed its mills in Vanderhoof and Fort St. John, citing challenging market conditions and a U.S. tariff hike.
Christopher Gaston, a forestry and economics associate professor at the University of British Columbia, said high tariffs were already challenging big forestry players to operate in the province.
Large forestry companies like Canfor make their money selling large amounts of lumber to U.S. buyers for a slim profit margin, according to Gaston.
He said raising tariff pressure will likely encourage them to move their business out of B.C.
“I can’t imagine any British Columbia company will be able to ship lumber for any kind of a profit; it would be at a loss,” he said. “The big mills will close down.”
Giscome Elementary could close as early as this year
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
A condition assessment list of all SD57 school lists Valemount Elementary, Van Bien, Hixon in “deficient” conditions and McBride Centennial and Morfee in “poor” condition.
Giscome is considered in “good” condition. Construction on the current building started in April 2013 and finished in 2014. It consists of two modular buildings being connected to combination gymnasium and activity centre. The report defines deficient schools as having a high risk of failure of most of its systems. Poor schools have a high risk of failure of some systems. Good schools meet all present requirements. A timeline for the school closures is not provided in the report and is supposed to be included in a future feasibility analysis.
However, reports scheduled for
discussion at the Feb. 13 board meeting address the potential closures of both Giscome and CIDES.
The first report suggests closing Giscome effective June 30 of this year. The second suggests closing CIDES the same day, but support would be offered to students by staff until Jan. 31, 2026.
In the current school year, there are 10 students at Giscome. Next school year, an enrolment of four to seven students is projected.
Should the board of education vote to consider the closure of Giscome at the meeting, it would trigger a 60-day period of public consultation before a final decision can be made.
However, for CIDES, it is officially considered a program and not a school and does not require the board’s policy on public consultation to be followed. Despite attendance restrictions for in-catchment students at overcapacity
schools that went into place last year, four schools are estimated to remain over capacity by 2023: Springwood, Heritage, Peden Hill and Vanway.
For that reason, the report also recommends that a maximum cap on kindergarten intake be placed at these schools with excess students redirected to overflow schools.
As of 2024, Beaverly Elementary, Southridge Elementary, Vanway Elementary, College Heights Secondary, Ron Brent Elementary, Heritage Elementary, D.P. Todd Secondary, Peden Hill Elementary, Glenview Elementary, Hart Highlands Elementary and Springwood Elementary were considered overcapacity.
By comparison, College Heights Elementary, Malaspina Elementary, Harwin Elementary, École Lac des Bois, Duchess Park Secondary, Edgewood Elementary, Foothills Elementary,
Quinson Elementary, Spruceland Community School of the Arts, Nusdeh Yoh Elementary, Pineview Elementary, Pinewood Elementary, Van Bien Elementary, Westwood Elementary, Polaris Montessori Elementary, Blackburn Elementary, Buckhorn Elementary, Hixon Elementary, Prince George Secondary School, École Heather Park Elementary, Nukko Lake Elementary, Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary, Morfee Elementary, Mackenzie Secondary, McBride Centennial, McBride Secondary, Valemount Elementary and Valemount Secondary are all considered undercapacity.
This is determined by comparing a school’s enrolment to its nominal capacity, which is defined as needing instructional space for 20 students per classroom for kindergarten classes and 25 students per classroom for Grades 1 through 12.
School board projects $1.2 million surplus for 2024-25
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
School District 57 is projecting a $1.2 million surplus for the 2024-25 academic year, according to documents that were presented at the board of education’s Tuesday meeting.
Under section 133(2) of BC’s School Act, a school division must amend its annual budget if its operating grant is amended and it is subsequently ordered to do so by the minister of education.
The board must then send the minister a certified copy of its amended budget within 60 days of receiving an order.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board was scheduled to review and then pass a bylaw certifying its amended budget.
Documents attached to the meeting agenda show that the division was initially projecting much slimmer budget surplus of $11,934 for the 2024-25 school year.
However, since the budget was initially approved, SD57’s expenses for the year have increased from $206,885,792 to $214,316,352, a rise of around $7.43 million.
This is largely due to an increase of around $6.67 million in expenses relating to the instruction of students.
Administration costs have been around $900,000 more than expected, operations costs have been around $150,000 lower than expected and transportation costs have been around about $10,000 higher than expected.
Cancelling out much of the expense increases has been a rise in revenues from the $205,137,726 projected in the 2024-25 budget to $211,697,278, an increase of approximately $6.6 million. The largest factor in the revenue increase has been in provincial operating grants from $195,840,155 to $201,667,400, around $5.8 million more than expected.
According to an operating fund report presented at the Nov. 12, 2024 board meeting, operating grants to school districts are based on enrolment estimates they provide to the province in February each year. Those grant amounts are
then adjusted in December based on actual figures.
As of November, the district was expecting:
• An increase in funding for 54 full-time equivalent positions to account for an increase in regular student enrolment worth $480,000
• A funding increase for 59 full-time equivalent positions for “alternate student” enrolment worth $525,000
• A funding decrease worth 23 full-time equivalent positions because of a decrease in online and continuing education student enrolment worth $175,000
• A $700,000 funding boost due to the enrolment of 27 more students with special needs
• A $186,000 funding boost due to the enrolment of 104 students who are learning the English language
“Overall estimated additional operating grant of $1.7 million,” a board document from that month stated.
“Additional staffing costs related to enrolment increases are reflected in the actual Operating expenses, and will be reflected in the Amended Annual Budget in February.”
At the time, the district was projecting a first-quarter operating deficit, but that was said to be typical for school
committee of the whole meeting for the board on Feb. 25 where initial enrolment projections and budget estimates will be presented and feedback on the budget will be received from various stakeholders like unions, partner groups and the public.
The preliminary budget will be presented officially at the April 8 board meeting. Then, from April 9 to 22, the public will be able to submit feedback on the preliminary budget through written submissions and an online survey.
The district’s Indigenous Education Leadership Table will provide its feedback on the budget sometime in April at a meeting that has yet to be scheduled.
districts and didn’t indicate a deficit would be forthcoming for the entire fiscal year.
According to the district’s timeline for the development of the 2025-26 annual budget, there will be a virtual
At an April 29 committee of the whole meeting, district staff will then present all the feedback received to the board.
The final 2025-26 budget will then be presented and approved at the May 13 board meeting.
By law, school districts must adopt their annual budgets by June 30.
Fight American tariffs by keeping your spending local
KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor
Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen a surge of consumer-oriented Canadian patriotism, thanks to the on-again-off-again-wait-again-nowon-for-real-this-time tariffs from our southern neighbour.
While we wait to face the final impact on our region, the question is this: What can the people of Prince George and Northern BC do about it?
Two weeks ago, U.S. President Donald Trump paused his proposed universal 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods entering the States, including lumber products, until March 4.
This week he signed an order placing a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminum entering the U.S. effective on the same March 4 and has reiterated his intent to do the same with Canadian lumber, which will very much impact Northern BC.
Responses have come from the prime minister, our premier, our local council and citizens.
While the prime minister plans counter-tariffs, our premier has announced a ban on liquor coming into BC from “red states,” which voted Republican.
Prince George city council is discussing how to make procurement practices beneficial to the local economy.
The feedback we are hearing from the public is their desire to fight back, calling for boycotts of U.S. retail goods such as groceries and clothing. Some have even cancelled U.S. vacation
plans, re-directing them to Mexico or other hot-weather destinations for the winter.
Trump again this week reiterated his comment that he wants to make sure Canada knows how much he wants us to be the 51st state, a goal he plans to pursue through economic means.
We are about to face the reality of that.
Trump’s newest tariff on aluminum will be felt in Kitimat, cascade out to Terrace, Smithers, and, soon after, to Prince George.
Pushing back against America can be complicated and challenging at a time when so much of what we buy and consume originates from the United States.
American businesses are part of our business and cultural landscape. We love Wal-Mart, Costco, McDonald’s,
and Starbucks. Even Tim Hortons is technically an American company now. We watch Netflix, Disney+, and Prime. We’re hooked on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Yeah, cutting out American companies might hurt a bit, especially that last part. Social media has become engrained in our lives, and it comes from American companies.
We’re realistic, then. The same people who are skipping the Florida oranges at the grocery store and switching ketchup brands are going to still want to feed their love of feeds.
There is, though, an immediate step city council and local businesses can take if they’re serious about sticking with an all-Canadian approach, one that only affects some of Trump’s top supporters: Stop using Facebook,
Instagram, X, and Google for advertising. Keep it Canadian and, more importantly, keep it local. In Prince George, that would mean advertising with local media, including Pattison Media, Vista Radio, and The Citizen.
For our residents who want to express their outrage and hit back at another of the president’s top supporters, reduce your purchases on Amazon by 25 per cent, to match the 25 per cent tariff he is implementing on our goods. Instead, spend the 25 per cent you were planning on spending on Amazon and shop at a local store.
That way, even if it’s Costco or Walmart, you’re at least supporting local employment.
If that happens, local dollars will go to local employers rather than to American techno-billionaire oligarchs.
The messages can still get out and companies would have the added benefit of being able to say, “We advertise locally.”
We all saw the world’s leading technology billionaires in their front-row seats at Trump’s inauguration. That was a pretty clear message about big tech’s place in the new America.
Like the tariffs, how much we let that affect us in Canada, and in Prince George is up to us.
The question becomes, will the public outcry and our council’s posturing be “…a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” or will we take a stand with real, impactful steps.
Have your say with a letter to the editor: editor@pgdaily.ca.
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Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement
Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor
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CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
City manager Walter Babicz (left) answers questions about the effect of U.S. tariffs on the city’s capital plan from members of council on Monday, Feb. 3.
Cameron Stolz Owner / Publisher
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of Canada.
du Canada.
Our elected officials seem to be out of the OCP loop
The Back Story
If you want to understand how elected officials play second fiddle to city administration, it was on full display during the Monday, Feb. 3 council meeting.
That was the big night the Official Community Plan (OCP), now in the works for two years, was to pass its first and second readings.
Intended to be the guiding document for the future of our city, this document calls for crazy things like mowing down hundreds of hectares of forest around UNBC, all the way up to the southeast corner of Shane Lake.
Say goodbye to those greenway trails and the “Green University” claims. How did that get in there, and what can elected officials do about it?
Our elected representatives on council, who got the final working copy of the document in their agenda package just five days prior, realistically had one evening to pass resolutions adjusting the plan.
The public was equally in the dark.
Other than a couple of Facebook posts, the first one on Jan. 30 and one on Feb. 3, there wasn’t much to get the public engaged. The OCP page on the city’s website wasn’t updated. Nor did the city put out a press release. It is true the public hearing would
Canada now has to look beyond the United States for trade
We cannot stop searching for those foreign countries that would buy our products and supply us with needed resources.
This is of utmost importance due to those trying to ruin our economy by raising the costs of importing Canadian goods.
The government of the U.S. is now being run by a proven liar, cheater,
not be until Feb. 26, at which time we common folk could have our say. But it would have been mostly for show. As city staff explained at the Feb. 3 meeting, council wouldn’t have been able to make simple amendments to the plan after listening to the public and call it a day. Any changes at that point would have to go back for more public hearings, delaying the process and wasting more time.
In short, the most significant time for political oversight of administration’s plan was the second reading on Feb. 3.
So why rush it through?
There were two public hearings that
LETTERS EDITOR to the
thief, law breaker, convicted felon, bigamist, and egomaniac that can’t be trusted, and has no compassion for anything.
His stated goal is to make Canada the 51st state by ruining our economy through tariffs and intimidation. His unstated goal is to become dictator of as many countries as he can.
evening on separate developments, eating up valuable time. Coun. Brian Skakun was away on vacation, leaving a senior councillor out of the fray.
Meanwhile, over at the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, the budget was underway, eating up the attention of some of the councillors.
All of this, and staff decided it was a good evening to also schedule a closed meeting right after the regular council meeting, which was expected to run late as it was.
It really felt like council was being manipulated into a hasty process where the public and elected officials could be
Please don’t believe anything that comes out of this mouth, and rest assured that his intentions are as he has stated and are obvious.
Our only real course of action is to make Canada a worldwide trader and participant in the world economy without dependence on those that would destroy us!
Tim Nelin Quesnel
sidelined.
Luckily, second reading didn’t happen. Late in the night Coun. Tim Bennett dropped the idea of pushing it to the regular council meeting of Feb. 24, meaning the public hearing will be delayed until some time in March.
I’m hoping this gives councillors more time to have a list of amendments ready for discussion. I’m also hoping the city publishes the OCP on its website and that the public takes the time to check it out, especially the maps, and lets city councillors and the mayor know what they think.
Regarding Ginter’s Green, there is good news there - the roads through our beloved park are no longer on the road network, but it doesn’t appear a lot of the meadow is officially a park yet.
More official protection for Ginter’s should be added.
The expansion of development along Tyner Boulevard, including behind UNBC right up to Shane Lake, as mentioned, is another thing on the map that city staff came up with that I don’t think the public is on board with. Nor do I think our city’s fiscal capacity is on board with more subsidies for out-oftown developers and their expensive sprawl and loss of greenspace.
In short, this whole process has been disappointing and the impression I’m left with is our elected politicians and the taxpaying public aren’t really in control.
Administration and developers are. James Steidle is a Prince George writer.
The U.S. is violating its trade partnership with Canada Tariffs on Canada. The U.S. signed a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Now they are violating the agreement.
They need to renegotiate the agreement or go to the World Trade Organization to get help resolving the matter.
Ariel Parks
Prince George
JAMES STEIDLE
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
A proposed road along what’s now a trail through Ginter’s Green is no longer part of the city’s Official Community Plan, but that doesn’t mean green space doesn’t need further protection, James Steidle writes today.
OPINION
Editorial: One year later, The Prince George Citizen is also looking to the future
I am excited that you are looking into the future. I love the fact that the paper is locally owned and community focused.
It is really bothersome to hear the naysayers and their negativity.
The reality when I moved here for the start of my career 34 years ago I never thought I would be here this long. That perspective lasted about a year and this town, it’s people and it’s leaders have made it clear to me that I most likely have to check out one of the cemetery plots as I will most likely spend my entire life here.
Brent Gierz
Like a big pizza pie, that’s amore!
What a great story! Good to teach children about the work that goes into eating tasty food.
youngfart
Albert Koehler: Tariff threat means it’s time to refocus on other opportunities
Globalization has negatively impacted everyone except the rich. That is a fact. I agree, that thinking outside the box and diversification is necessary. Any investment in PG by our politicians or business must indicate a + ROI on that investment. Good analysis, evaluation, business cases by our council will bring viable businesses to our city.
Let’s see what the city’s economic team can come up with and we may be surprised by some of our own people being interested in investing in the economic teams ideas. They are the economic idea team, not just the please invest in our city economic team. Coun. Cori Ramsay had good ideas on storage facilities, transportation hub make some business cases/ideas to garner interest.
CC Mail
Albert Koehler: Tariff threat means it’s time to refocus on other opportunities
What we need to do is build out Prince George’s technological infrastructure. Start building systems that take advantage of our low cost electricity and abundance of space...
To not only encourage tech companies too move to Prince George, but too also facilitate local entrepreneurs to operate their own startups without having too move too the lower mainland.
the blob
Three City of Prince George loans worth $11.3M to go to alternative approval process
The alternative approval Process should be eliminated as it violates the basics of secret ballot in that electors must identify themselves in order to register opposition, unlike proving identity to get a secret balllot for a referendum.
I suggest all voters with concerns about this system look carefuly into which counsellors approve the use of this sneaky system of getting financing and then remove those individuals from consideration next election. This system by the very nature of how it operates identifies voters AND how they voted which is in direct conflict with the democratic process of one person, one vote, BY SECRET BALLOT.
I ask mayor and council how they can, in good conscience go along with this sneaky, underhanded method of funding mismanagement? Most of the items mentioned should be budgeted for in year by year funding and be paid for from accrued reserves.
That our council cannot plan ahead and uses this system tells me they are unfit for reelection. Shame on you!
Renoguy24
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SD57 report recommends closure of six schools by 2033
I think they should leave the CIDES program to continue. It gives a person a free shot as an adult to begin to further their education.
With the cost of everything today, education would be the last thing people with little money would go back to school.
Especially if they are earning a basic wage and they have to shelter, eat. etc.
Once they get into higher education, yes they will have pay, but it would be helpful in the beginning and give them time to apply for student loans, etc.
Darcy Hanson
SD57 report recommends closure of six schools by 2033
losing neighborhood schools hurts neighborhoods. The thought of closing Van Bien is ridiculous.
When children can no longer walk to school you lose your neighborhoods.
PG Person
Dan Hamhuis to be inducted into BC Hockey Hall of Fame
Dan Hamhuis deserves this and so much more.
A small town boy makes it big.
Gave PG his best and entertained many people.
Oh, to see the “Hammy” again. Here for the Beer
City council considers tariff impacts on capital plan
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The potential U.S.-Canada trade war continued to be a hot topic for Prince George city council at its Monday, Feb. 3 meeting, with a motion asking for administration to prepare a report on the city’s procurement practices.
The talk about the impact of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 25 per cent counter-tariffs on American goods started during a discussion about the city borrowing money for capital projects.
Earlier that same day, Trump announced that Canada and Mexico would receive 30-day reprieves from the tariffs after both countries reiterated prior commitments to improve border security.
Mayor Simon Yu asked staff whether it would be prudent to speak with the provincial government about whether there are any available procurement programs for Canadian-built vehicles should tariffs be placed on American-built ones.
City manager Walter Babicz referenced Premier David Eby’s plans to direct provincial procurement away from American vendors in response to the tariffs before they were also put on hold after the pause.
“That, of course, is now unclear based on the postponement of the tariffs,” Babicz said. “But we can certainly look into that and monitor what direction the province is going in and bring any information that is relevant back to council.”
Coun. Garth Frizzell said when the
COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the city was able to identify $25.9 million worth of capital projects to put on hold. With an uncertain economic future due to the potential Canada-U.S. trade war, Frizzell said Prince George might need to develop a revised capital plan in short order.
In such a scenario, Babicz said, staff would assess the priority of its planned capital projects as well as what financial commitments have already been made.
“With council’s approval of the budget in principle, work has already commenced on some projects,” Babicz said. “Depending on what commitments, what projects have already started, that would be a factor as well, but we would look at it all in totality and return to council with options and recommendations if so needed.”
Later in the meeting, council discussed a letter sent to municipalities in BC by Chris Gardner, president and CEO of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association. The same letter was received by the board of directors for the Fraser-Fort George Regional District.
The letter spoke of the importance for municipalities to “commit to open, fair
and transparent procurement practices across all domains of local and regional government activity.”
Coun. Kyle Sampson put forward a motion directing staff to prepare a report on how the city can improve its procurement practices, including consideration of social procurement practices and how to make sure the practices are beneficial to the local economy.
Sampson asked that, if possible, staff include information on what measures the city can do to respond to national and global issues like potential tariffs and whether bids from American vendors can be limited.
Frizzell said that the part of Sampson’s motion asking about making sure procurement benefited the local economy would also make sure it’s beneficial to Canadian interests as well.
He said after Russia invaded Ukraine, council passed a motion limiting contracts from Russian interests that is still in place.
Yu said maybe staff could bring back a high-level report before delving too deep into the subject.
Babicz said the time and resources needed to fulfill the motion as presented
“would be significant” as it would entail a review of the city’s entire procurement system though he couldn’t present an exact timeline.
He suggested a “lunch and learn” for council session might be an appropriate way to start council’s education about procurement policy, following up on what resources and time would be needed to fulfill a complete review later.
The city manager described “social procurement” at a high level as procurement that requires proponents bidding on contracts to outline the local benefits on employment or other factors should their bid be successful.
Sampson’s motion passed by a margin of four to three. Yu and councillors Cori Ramsay, Susan Scott and Tim Bennett voted in favour while councillors Ron Polillo, Trudy Klassen and Frizzell voted against. Coun. Brian Skakun was absent from the meeting.
The wording of the motion was as follows:
“That council directs administration to prepare a report highlighting opportunities to improve the City of Prince George’s procurement practices, with considerations given to the correspondence dated January 7, 2025 from the ICBA, as well as the emerging ‘social procurement’ practices being adopted by some municipalities, and that the report include recommendations to ensure procurement policies remain open, competitive, transparent, and most importantly that are beneficial to the local economy.”
However, the wording won’t be final until the meeting minutes are adopted at the next council meeting on Monday, Feb. 24.
CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO BY EVAN VUCCI
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Jan. 31.
City loans worth $11.3M to go to alternative approval
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Prince George city council started the process to permit administration to carry out the alternative approval process for loans worth more than $11.3 million related to the 2025 budget at its Monday, Feb. 3 meeting.
Several capital projects in the city’s five-year capital plan are scheduled to be funded through the Municipal Finance Authority debt and lease funding, including the purchase of new equipment, renewal work on the stormwater system and the replacement of the Prince George Civic and Conference Centre’s building automation system and chiller.
The equipment financing loan would borrow up to $5,489,500 over a period of no greater than 15 years. That includes:
• $4,178,000 for mobile equipment replacement, buying new vehicles for the city’s fleet
• $20,000 for new floor scrubbers for the janitorial department
• $50,000 of new hoses for fire services
• $140,000 to replace six fleet column lifts hoist system units, lifts with a weight capacity of 19,000 pounds used to inspect and maintain the city’s heavy duty trucks and equipment,
• $400,000 for a tractor with a flail mower
• $701,500 for new arborist equipment
At the council meeting, manager of legislative services Ethan Anderson said that the borrowing isn’t over long enough term to require review by the provincial inspector of municipalities, but it does require elector approval as it will be over longer than five years.
The stormwater renewal loan would borrow up to $2,620,000 to reline, replace or dispose of stormwater system elements like ponds, outfalls, storm mains, culverts, catch basins, manholes, flood pumps and more.
For the replacement of the Civic Centre building automation system and chiller, which regulates the temperature
in the building, the loan would allow the city to borrow up to $3,260,000.
The stormwater and Civic Centre loans are subject to both review by the inspector and elector approval. If approved, the three loans would result in $1,078,129 in annual debt servicing costs, which a report from city staff says would result in 0.72 per cent worth of future tax levy increases.
Because these are designated as capital projects and the financial impact could last for more than five years, the city is required to obtain the approval of eligible voters.
To get elector approval, the city can either hold a referendum or use what’s called the alternative approval process (AAP). Administration recommended the latter option, which council approved like it did with the funding for the Aquatic Centre renovations last year.
Rather than setting up polling stations for residents like would happen with a referendum, the alternative approval process requires electors to submit forms to the city declaring their opposition.
If 10 per cent or more of residents voice their objections this way, the council then cannot grant final adoption of the bylaw unless a referendum is held.
oversight that I think is important,” Klassen said.
As an example, Klassen said she appreciated the information the library provided when council asked question.
“We asked for more financial information and for them to have a more complete five-year plan and I think we need to be doing better on that on our end ourselves, on our budget,” Klassen said.
She said she didn’t think the city was fulfilling the terms of one of its sustainable financing policies, which states “each capital funding request will clearly indicate the initial cost, the future operating and replacement costs, and the estimated service life of the project and will identify the sources of sustainable funding for those costs.”
During council’s discussion of the matter, Coun. Cori Ramsay — the chair of the city’s Standing Committee on Finance and Audit — noted that some of the vehicle purchases are “things like fire trucks, things that we really need.”
“Are we going to spend $160,000 to go to a referendum, which is how much it costs to do a vote like that?” Ramsay said. “The alternative approval process, we have seen, has worked and in other communities has actually resulted in failure of approval of these bylaws.
I am a fan of trying this process on these sorts of items because I think it’s appropriate.”
Ramsay also noted that the city has some long-term debt coming off the books this year. During budget talks, it was noted that the city was going to retire $869,000 worth of annual debt servicing costs in 2025.
On the capital spending, Coun. Trudy Klassen said she was finding herself in a quandary as she felt “increasingly frustrated by the lack of information that we had” during budget talks and said she would vote against all the recommendations relating to the borrowing and the alternative approval process.
“I don’t think that we have enough information at budget and even at finance and audit to do the kind of
In response to a question from Coun. Tim Bennett, Anderson said the estimated cost for the alternative approval process is $5,000 to $6,000.
Coun. Garth Frizzell said he recalled an AAP in Prince George meeting the threshold for rejection years ago for a proposed $50 million flood plain redesign near Cottonwood Island Park.
Yu asked whether the 50 days between notice going out to residents and the submission deadline was enough to meet the city’s obligations.
Anderson said that he tried to build in enough time for the city to get a response from the Inspector of Municipalities as they can be “quite slow getting back to us” as well as much more time than the city is legally obligated to provide.
After approving the alternate process on Feb. 3, administration has scheduled notice to go out to residents on Friday, April 4. Forms will be available to print off on the city’s website, through email or be picked up from city hall.
During votes on the 12 recommendations, Klassen was the only councillor to vote against all of them. Coun. Brian Skakun was not present at the meeting.
Completed and signed forms can be returned through email, fax, mail or in person.
Residents will be required to register their opposition by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
Members of Prince George city council and administration discuss an agenda item during the Monday, Feb. 3 council meeting at city hall. Discussion topics at the meeting included the approval process for $11.3 million worth of loans for capital projects.
Judge reserves sentence for man guilty of sex charge
BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A B.C. Supreme Court judge in Prince George reserved decision Feb. 10 for the sentencing of a 26-year-old man charged with sexual assault and sexual touching of a person under 16.
Crown prosecutor Andrea Norlund asked Justice Marguerite Church for a three-year sentence for Linden Rae Dennis.
Dennis was found guilty last September of having intercourse with a 15-year-old girl. At the time of the offence, Dennis was 22 years old. Court heard that he admitted to the incident, but did not know the girl’s age nor did he take all reasonable steps to find out her age.
Defence lawyer Andrea Turton said Dennis has been in custody since last July 9 on another matter — a total 203 calendar days or 304 days under the enhanced credit rule.
“Mr. Dennis is either in a time served position or that an additional six months would not be an unfit sentence,”
Turton told Church.
Norlund read part of the victim’s impact statement, which said Dennis caused the victim to become detached from family, friends, school and work. It also said she had been hospitalized, needed medication and underwent counselling.
“My emotions are very messed up. I didn’t feel like myself, and I’m not really myself after a number of years,” said the statement.
To Dennis, she wrote: “You didn’t ask if you could leave your mark on me, but before I could stop you, you did.”
A pre-sentence report found Dennis has alcohol use disorder, but no mental illness or personality disorder.
The report also said Dennis minimized responsibility for the offence and the impact on the victim, but would be a low-risk to reoffend if he remained sober and in counselling.
Asked to address the court, Dennis simply said: “I’m absolutely, truly sorry.”
Church said she would render a decision on Feb. 12.
Cause of downtown fire unknown
MATTHEW
Fire investigators were unable to determine what caused the initial spark that destroyed the former City Second Hand store on Jan. 17 due to the extensive damage caused by the blaze.
The Fire Prevention Branch has concluded its investigation, according to a statement from the city issued Monday, Feb. 10.
“The cause of the fire has been deemed undetermined due to the extensive amount of damage. The possible cause is deemed as accidental due to inappropriately stored materials within the building.
The materials in question was furniture that was being stored in the abandoned building.
Despite speculation, the city stated that there were no individuals seen entering the building before flames broke out.
“There is nothing to suggest any unauthorized people had entered the building prior to the fire, and the RCMP have not been engaged,” the city states.
The City of Prince George told The Citizen that they are waiting for insurance investigators to finish their reports before the cleanup of debris begins. The city stated that there will be no further updates.
Thief sentenced in Hart gas station firearms robbery
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A 32-year-old man was sentenced Feb. 7 to another year and 51 weeks in jail for his role in an armed robbery at the Husky Gas Station in the 8000 block of Hart Highway in Prince George last February.
Court heard that Brandon Michael Felix and another individual, both with their faces covered, visited the gas station before 7 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2024. The other male broke the glass to a gun case and stole 10 firearms. The two men fled in a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
More than an hour later, the vehicle’s owner reported it stolen to Prince George RCMP.
A police officer driving on Kelly Road
South noticed a male sitting at a bus stop south of Austin Road, wearing a black and camouflage jacket similar to the one in the description from the crime scene. The officer ordered the man, identified as Felix, to keep his hands out of his pockets, asked his name and instructed him to stand-up. A shotgun fell out of Felix’s jacket while being handcuffed.
Crown and defence lawyers made a joint submission for a 3 ½-year sentence.
Assoc. Chief Judge Paul Dohm noted
that Felix had pleaded guilty to a January 2024 shoplifting incident, in addition to the February 2024 armed robbery and possession of a firearm contrary to an order charges.
Dohm said Felix’s co-operative behaviour during the arrest and the early guilty plea were both mitigating circumstances.
However, Felix was most recently sentenced to 150 days in September 2022 for robbery.
Dohm said that Felix is Indigenous and from north of Fort St. James. He spent much of his childhood living in foster care, with his paternal grandmother and in group homes. He also lived for 10 years on the streets and has battled addiction.
Dohm acknowledged Felix’s father,
Michael Antoine, is a former native healing counsellor at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.
Dohm gave Felix a one-day sentence for shoplifting and 3 1/2 years for the two more serious charges. Since he had the equivalent of 555 days credit for time served in custody, his net new sentence is 723 days.
“Mr. Felix, you’ve been doing well in the institution, keep doing well,” Dohm addressed Felix.
“Take as much programs as you can, and when you get out, rely on your dad. He’s going to keep you on the right path. Stay away from the bad influences. Stay off of drugs. We don’t want to see you again in the courts. We want you to see you living a more productive lifestyle, and I know you can do it.”
Felix
HILLIER Citizen Staff
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER Crews work to determine the cause of the 4th Avenue fire on Jan. 28.
Three-vehicle collision on 20th
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
An RCMP officer talks to one of the drivers involved in a collision on 20th Avenue at Spruce Street at midday on Friday, Feb. 7. Three vehicles were involved, with two coming to rest nose-to-nose in the middle of the street and a third half a block away.
NOTICE
OF MEETING
2025 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
The 2025 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel meets February 25, 2025 at 2 pm at 155 George Street, Prince George to consider complaints on including or excluding properties in these parcel tax rolls:
• Adams Rd Community Sewer
• Azu Water System
• Bear Lake Water System
• Bendixon Rd Community Sewer
• Buckhorn Community Sewer
• Shell-Glen Fire Protection
• Shelley Riverbank Erosion Protection
• Syms Road Street Lighting
• Tabor Lake Community Sewer
• Tallus Road Community Sewer
• West Lake Community Sewer
Written complaints must be emailed to communityservices@rdffg.bc.ca or mailed to the Regional District office at 155 George Street, Prince George BC V2L 1P8 by February 21 at 2 pm.
Parcel tax rolls can be viewed by appointment only at the Regional District office from February 13 to 21, Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 5 pm, excluding statutory holidays.
For more information or to make an appointment, contact communityservices@rdffg.bc.ca or 250-960-4400.
CRIME NOTES
New scam targets people looking for jobs
There’s a scam happening in Prince George that targets people looking for work.
The Prince George RCMP issued a notice Friday, Feb. 7 explaining how it works. A person needing a job answers an advertisement, only to have the potential employer send them a cheque and ask the job-seeker to cash it and send some of the money back to the “employer,” usually with a fake reason for the transaction.
“The cheques are fraudulent, but this isn’t always caught until after you have already sent the fraudsters the funds,” warned Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.
“This means you are out all of that money, which can sometimes be in the thousands of dollars.”
Police recommend that people never agree to be a “money mule” by receiving funds into a personal bank account to forward elsewhere, warning that this is a tactic used in money laundering.
Anyone who has been approached or exposed to this or another scam can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to make a report.
If you have lost money to a fraudster, report it to local police.
Police seek woman wanted on two warrants
Prince George RCMP officers are looking for Marisa Marie James.
James is wanted on two unendorsed warrants for personation with intent to avoid arrest, resisting or obstructing a police officer and breach of a release order.
James is described as a Caucasian female, 5’3” (160 centimeters), 130 pounds (59 kilograms), with brown eyes and brown hair often dyed blonde
She has also been known to use the
name Kyla James, say police.
If you have any information about her whereabouts, contact Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS).
RCMP describe vehicles linked to Christmas Eve weigh scales fire
As the Prince George RCMP’s investigation into a suspected arson at the Red Rock weigh scales is ongoing, new developments have prompted police to call on the public for assistance.
The fire happened Christmas Eve at the weigh station south of Prince George on Highway 97.
“Witnesses to the incident were able to provide investigators with descriptions of the vehicles seen leaving the weigh scales shortly after the fire broke out,” stated Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.
“If you know where these vehicles are or who they belong to, please contact investigators by calling the Prince George RCMP non-emergency line at 250-561-3300.”
• Vehicle 1: An older model Ford flat-deck pickup truck with faded paint, featuring two red lights on the roof of the cab or headache rack
• Vehicle 2: A smaller sedan, possibly a Subaru, with a pastel green colour and either a roof rack or tent mounted on top
If you have seen these vehicles or know who they belong to, investigators urge you to contact the Prince George RCMP non-emergency line at 250-561-3300.
Tips can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 or online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.
James
The weigh scales at Red Rock, south of Prince George on Highway 97, went up in flames on Christmas Eve.
PG among highest in BC drug toxicity deaths in 2024
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Prince George has one of the highest rates of deaths due to toxic drug use in BC.
A new BC Coroners Service report stated more than 2,000 people died from toxic drugs last year, and that per Local Health Area, the highest rates of death per 100,000 were in the following cities and towns:
• 422 in Vancouver-Centre North
• 116 in Lillooet
• 109 in Greater Campbell River
• 109 in Terrace
• 103 in Prince George
These stats are not surprising to Dr. Rakel Kling, medical officer of health.
“Prince George is our biggest community in the North and where a large number of people who use substances gather,” Kling said. “So it’s unfortunately not surprising that that’s where most people who overdose are from.”
Overall 70 per cent of the deaths reported were individuals between the ages of 30 and 49. The rate of death among females in 2024 is 20 per 100,000. This is an increase of 65 per cent from 2020.
Fentanyl continues to be a main driver in these deaths. Preliminary reports from the BC Coroners Service stated that the drug was detected in 78 per cent of drugs in expedited toxicological testing in 2024.
Kling told The Citizen that environmental factors like weather or living conditions can make overdosing more common.
“It’s time to take extra care, especially with the cold weather,” said Kling. “There’s less opportunities to use in public places just because it’s so cold outside. People are using alone at home or alone in other places. That is making overdoses much more likely. So now is a good time to ensure that people who are using substances make sure to use with others at our overdose prevention sites.”
PG man who stole pickup truck has three-year sentence reduced
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A Prince George man was sentenced to another 494 days in jail on Dec. 31, 2024, six months after a judge found him guilty of stealing a pickup truck, driving it while he was prohibited and fleeing from police.
Dallas Lee Blanchette, 38, was tried in provincial court over two days last April. Judge Judith Doulis found him guilty last June of the crimes, which began when he stole a Ford F-350 in the early hours of Oct. 22, 2022 in Prince George.
Doulis sentenced Blanchette to one year in jail for possession of stolen property, six months for driving while prohibited and 18 months for fleeing police, all consecutive to each other.
Blanchette also pleaded guilty to separate charges of possession of a stolen 2017 Ford Explorer, possession
In addition to not using alone or seeking out safe sites, Kling urges drug users to always carry naloxone, to avoid mixing drugs or using them with alcohol and use apps like Be Safe.
BC Health Minister Josie Osborne released a statement regarding the toxic drug crisis and the effects it had on people across BC in 2024.
“Today, we acknowledge the 2,253 people in British Columbia who lost their lives to poisoned drugs in 2024,” stated Osbourne.
“Behind every number is a child, parent, sibling, friend, or neighbour, and their loss is felt deeply by those who knew and loved them. The toxic drug crisis also continues to take a heavy toll on the people working on the front lines who care for and support many of the people we’ve lost. We must continue to work together to prevent further heartbreak and save lives. This public health emergency touches every corner of our province.”
AGiftBeyondImagination
of a Keltec 12-gauge shotgun and failure to comply with electronic monitoring. Doulis sentenced him to a combined 390 days in jail, but concurrent to the other jail sentence.
Doulis said Blanchette qualified for pre-sentence custody credit of 596 days, reducing his time remaining to be served to 494 days.
Blanchette will also spend 12 months on probation after his release and is banned from driving for five years.
“Given Dallas Blanchette’s age and record, restorative objectives are less-pressing than denunciation and deterrence, be it general or specific,” Doulis said in her sentencing decision.
“According to Dallas Blanchette, he overcame his drug addiction four years ago. Nevertheless, he remained entrenched in his criminal lifestyle. Whether this was the result of preference, habit or inertia, I cannot say.”
The report noted a 13 per cent decrease from the number of deaths in 2023, down from 47 per 100,000 in 2023 to 40 per 100,000 people in 2024. This is a four-year low for the province.
“The information collected by our coroners during their investigations into unregulated drug toxicity deaths indicates a decline in fatalities over the last several months of 2024. This is consistent with reporting from other jurisdictions in Canada and internationally,” said Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, chief coroner. “This doesn’t mitigate the fact that 2,253 members of our communities died in 2024, leaving behind grieving loved ones, friends, colleagues, and teammates. Our thoughts are with all of those many, many people who have been touched by this crisis.”
Since the public health emergency was first declared in April 2016, the lives of 16,047 people in B.C. have been lost to drug toxicity.
china before communism
Mackenzie accused testifies in sexual assault trial
BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A Mackenzie restaurant proprietor who was charged with sexual assault denied all the allegations in Prince George provincial court on Friday, Feb. 7.
Sotirios “Sam” Tourloukis testified in his defence before Judge David Simpkin that none of the incidents described by the woman on the first day of the trial happened.
“Never, never,” Tourloukis repeatedly answered when asked if he had acted without consent to kiss the woman, touch her bottom and grope her vagina.
“Always, I treat people with respect,” Tourloukis said.
Tourloukis said he had been in the restaurant industry all his life. He operated Sam’s Family Restaurant from 2019 until 2023, but closed down after the landlord decided to double the rent from $2,000 to $4,000 a month.
“That’s my main concern, look after the customers, serve good food and be part of the community, because Mackenzie is a small town, not very big, you know,” Tourloukis said in court. “So everybody knew me there, had good relations with everybody there.”
Tourloukis said the woman had greeted him with a hug in front of customers and he told her that made him feel uncomfortable.
The woman testified Thursday, Feb. 6 that Tourloukis had asked her for a back massage in January 2023 and, while she was behind him, Tourloukis
reached around his back and touched her vagina.
“Never happened, never, never, never,” he said. “I swear on my mum’s grave, never happened.”
Instead, Tourloukis told the court that he did remember asking a male worker to apply Rub-A535 on his back, because he sometimes suffers pain when lifting heavy items.
The woman also testified that Tourloukis had found the incident humorous and compared it to when he had touched male friends in the groin area.
Tourloukis also denied saying that to her and denied touching a male friend in the crotch.
“Please, no, never in my life,” he said with a laugh.
Crown prosecutor Denise Payne asked why it made him laugh.
“Because that would be weird, right?” Payne said.
“Of course, I didn’t grab that way,” he said.
On Feb. 6, the woman described herself as a “bubbly and happy” person who would greet a friend with a hug, kiss on the cheek or even give a back massage. She said she never considered it sexual.
The woman testified that while Tourloukis was working in the kitchen, he walked up to her and said “hey, give us a kiss.”
“I went to give him a kiss on the cheek, and the man turned, and he kissed my mouth,” she told the court.
“I was so shocked by it, and I was like, what are you doing? You’re not allowed to do that and he thought it was hilarious.”
She said he proceeded to tell some of the customers, who were his friends, about what happened. “They all had a pretty good laugh about it.”
Despite often expressing her disapproval to Tourloukis, she said he would sometimes smack her rear end or joke about leaving her boyfriend on Vancouver Island.
“‘We will have a Big Fat Greek Wedding, and you can be my wife’ and I kind of sloughed it off as, you know, whatever, a lonely old man, right?”
On another occasion in January 2023, he asked her to scratch his back.
“I went to go scratch his back, right? Because everybody likes a back scratch. And he reached behind him with both of his hands and grabbed my vagina,” she said.
She said he thought it was funny and said “it’s not a big deal.”
“Then he told me a story about how he did that to his friend, one of his guy friends, and grabbed his male friend by the balls, and his male friend thought it was funny,” she testified.
“So he didn’t really understand why I didn’t.”
She said she went to the bathroom and cried.
Under cross-examination, Tourloukis’s lawyer, Connor Carleton, accused the woman of fabricating the incidents and suggested she was motivated financially.
“That’s absolutely rubbish,” she said emphatically. “This all happened. Why would I go through this for the last two years?”
Valemount council planning out new tourism strategy
ABIGAIL POPPLE
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
VALEMOUNT - Valemount council approved the village’s 2025-2027 Resort Development Strategy Jan. 28. The strategy outlines the village’s goals for the tourism sector over the next four years, and includes a plan to fund infrastructure projects proposed by local organizations.
The strategy is part of the Village’s application to the Resort Municipality Initiative, a program administered by the Ministry of Tourism which funds infrastructure projects for small, tourism-based municipalities.
The village is applying for $664,000 in funding from the ministry, said director of finance Lori McNee – the same amount which the village applied for during the last round of funding.
In total, the village received 18 applications for funding from the initiative, totalling $1,176,871, according to McNee and CAO Anne Yanciw’s presentation. 13 of these were infrastructure projects, and five were proposals for events such as Winterfest, held annually by Tourism Valemount, Yanciw said.
At a Dec. 23 meeting of the committee of the whole, council decided to split this money among 16 different projects.
11 of these are infrastructure projects, while four are event proposals. AMong the successful applicants for projects were the Rocky Mountain Racing Association, the Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association, the Valemount Community Sports Day Association, the Valemount Learning Society and the Valemount Marina Association, as well as the village for entrance upgrades.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
The former owner of a Mackenzie restaurant was in Prince George court last week for his trial on a charge of sexual assault.
Tribunal rejects appeal of oil/gas development permit
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Energy Resource Appeal Tribunal dismissed a Peace Country homeowner’s challenge of a British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER) permit for an oil and natural gas development.
In a Monday, Feb. 3 decision, panel chair Nancy Moloney agreed with the BCER and Ovintiv Canada ULC that Richard Kabzems of Farmington, north of Dawson Creek, lacks standing to appeal the permit and the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to hear such an appeal.
BCER approved Ovintiv’s application July 8, 2024 to drill, test and operate 24 wells for petroleum, natural gas or both, along with an associated facility and oil and gas road.
Beginning in October 2022, the company notified Kabzems and others in the Lebell Road subdivision, 1.3 kilometres from the site, about its plans. Kabzems expressed his opposition over the ensuing 21 months.
His appeal claimed the permit does not sufficiently protect residents for seismic and health risks and he commissioned an expert report by geoscientist Allan Chapman, formerly of the BC Oil and Gas Commission, on the risks of fracking-induced earthquakes in the subdivision.
In April 2024, before the permit was
north of Dawson Creek.
awarded, Kabzems wrote to the BCER landowner liaison, asking for the permit to be denied or a five-kilometre buffer zone be implemented between resource
activities and the residences. The letter was signed by nine other area residents and included with the application.
On July 23, 2024, two weeks after the
approval, Kabzems appealed, alleging the potential for increased fracking-induced earthquakes and toxic pollutants in the air and water.
“The appellant submitted that he has experienced years of seismic disturbances from Ovintiv drilling in the area and is not able to attain earthquake insurance for his property,” Moloney wrote.
“The appellant submitted that the permit should not be approved until a current, independent scientific review has been performed demonstrating very low health risks to residents, and that this burden of proof is borne by Ovintiv.”
The company said the project complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements. Moloney’s decision said all permitted activities are located on private land not owned by the appellant.
“There are two intervening parcels of land between the appellant’s property and the activity area. Given these facts, I find the appellant’s property is not on or adjacent to the ‘activity area’ as defined in the permit,” Moloney wrote.
Denver, Colo.-based Ovintiv, formerly known as Calgary-based Encana, trades on the NYSE and TSE exchanges.
On Jan. 31, it closed the $3.3 billion acquisition of Paramount Resources Ltd. Montney Shale assets in Alberta.
Negotiations on to restore recyling service in McBride
MCBRIDE - Nearly eight months after recycling services were paused throughout the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, McBride residents still do not have local recycling services. The Regional District began negotiations with Recycle BC in February 2024 after Cascades – the contractor previously responsible for administering recycling services – announced it would end its contract with the District. Cascades held seven contracts with the
District, and the board decided to tackle other solid waste management services first, general manager of environmental services Laura Zapotichny told The Goat at the time. This led to a pause in recycling services starting on May 31st, until three recycling depots became operational in September after months of negotiation.
In an email to The Goat, Manager of Communications and Culture Hilary Erasmus said the Regional District is in the midst of negotiations with Recycle BC, the service provider hired to take over recycling services throughout the
district in February.
The crux of negotiations lie in whether or not McBride will become a principal depot or satellite depot, Erasmus said.
At principal depots, RecycleBC is responsible for the cost of hauling recyclables to a sorting facility in Prince George and the cost of the majority of the bins.
At satellite depots, the Regional District is responsible for hauling costs and the costs of all the bins.
The Regional District is advocating for McBride to become a principal depot
to help offset the costs of operating its waste diversion program, Erasmus said.
Staff will update the Regional District board on the outcome of negotiations “in the coming months,” she added, but there is not yet a clear timeline for when recycling services will become operational in McBride.
In the meantime, the Regional District has recommended that residents haul their recyclables to the Valemount Transfer Station – where recycling services reopened on Sept. 16 – or if possible, store their recyclables until McBride services are operational.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Ovintiv has been given approval to drill, test and operate 24 wells for petroleum, natural gas or both, along with an associated facility and oil and gas road near Farmington,
What’s happening in PG
Legends Live presents Love Me Tender on Friday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m., at Thirsty Moose Pub, Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1177 Third Ave. at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Om Pizza Bar Café, 1970 Ospika Blvd. Be sure to call Om to make a reservation for the best seats at 250-562-9888. Tributes to Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Munroe and Michael Buble are featured. With tributes to some of the most iconic swingin’ singers of all time, let the stars of Legends, Live! croon their way into your hearts in an evening with incredible impersonators, fabulous costumes and amazing live vocals. Tickets are $25 each. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/ legendslivelovemetender.
Pal-entines with Madbomb, Brainium and Examine the Bore goes Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Time to celebrate love and heartbreak and everything in between during the show. Tickets are $25 at the door or $19.44 at www.eventbrite. ca/e/pal-entines-2025-w-madbomb-brainium-and-examine-the-bore-tickets.
Valentine’s Day with the Big Enuff Big Band goes Friday, Feb. 14 with doors open at 6:30 and show at 7 p.m. at the Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. Join the Big Enuff Band in their debut performance of jazz standards and swing. This is an 18-piece band featuring saxophones, trombones and trumpets and the rhythm section with singer, keys, guitar players and drum. There’s a concession and bar. There’s table seating or balcony seating. Tickets start at $20 at bigenuffbigband.com/ Valentines-Concert.
Cindy Daly & Terry Espejo Show goes Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Deadfall Brewing, 1733 Nicholson St. South. Come on down and enjoy some easy listening and light-hearted music. No cover show but donations are appreciated.
Downtown Winterfest goes Saturday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Veterans Plaza in front of City Hall where the heart of Prince George will be transformed into a winter playground. There
are family activities including a free ride on the Cottonwood Minirail. Reap the benefits of There’s Smore Downtown contest for a sweet treat while enjoying the outdoor food court. There’s always a fun street hockey game to join in with local athletes. Visit the local branch of the Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. for a pancake breakfast.
ECRA Valentine’s Social goes Saturday, Feb. 15 with doors open at 4 p.m., dinner at 5 and dance starting at 6:15 p.m. at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association, 1692 Tenth Ave. This event features the Theresa Jordan Band performing a variety of music including country, pop and bluegrass. There will also be a 50/50 draw. Net proceeds go to the ECRA sound system project. Tickets are $25 each available at the centre Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anti-Valentine’s Day Comedy Show goes Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8:30, doors at 7:30 p.m. at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum, 850 River Rd. The
event is presented by Farmhouse Catering. Tired of all the sappy Valentine’s Day cliches? Come for an unforgettable night of comedy that puts love in the hot seat. Standup comedians performing include Dale Ehrstien, Cody Malbeuf, Kyle Lewis Holt, Brad Webb, Shannon Street and Sara Jones. This is a 19+ show. Seats are first come, first served. Tickets start at $15, VIP goes for $28 and group tickets are up for grabs, too, at www.farmhousecatering.ca/events.
Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special goes Saturday, Feb. 15 offered during two performances at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations. Get your tickets now to discover romantic music at Knox Performance Centre under the gentle glow of candlelight. This music is performed by a string quartet surrounded by 2,000 flameless candles. For tickets that
start at $16.50 visit feverup.com/en/ prince-george-bc-canada/candlelight. Queer Clothing Swap and Sewing Workshop goes Sunday, Feb. 16 at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. In partnership with Northern BC Queer Connection Society, this event welcomes everyone to explore, experiment, and express their style, judgment-free. Discover how to alter, customize, upcycle, and adapt clothing to celebrate every body type and unique sense of style. Find a piece here or bring one. There are sewing machines, supplies, and a space ready to help bring a vision to life. People are invited to share sewing knowledge, bring a machine, and mentor along the way. This event is 16+.
Northern BC RV & Outdoor Expo goes Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CN Centre. Admission is free.
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CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Sculptor Peter Vogelaar works on a new piece at Winterfest in 2018. The popular annival event returns Saturday, Feb. 15.
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Brahms Horn Trio goes Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave, in downtown Prince George. Experience Brahms’ powerful Horn Trio in E-flat Major with core members of the PGSO. Listen to the music by candlelight with two different seating options: table seating with appetizers, or balcony seating for a more traditional concert experience. For tickets visit https://tickets.pgso.com/tickets/ brahms-horn-trio-284972#buy.
The Perfect Date Nite goes Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Not a hoax, not a joke. Improv Shmimprov is back with a brand new show. In the intimate surroundings of the Omineca Arts Centre the team will work out some romantic and some not-so-romantic sketches. There’s some fun games and sketches the audience can take home with them. As always there’s snacks and drinks so bring a date and have some laughs. Doors open at 7p.m. and show starts at 8. Tickets are $20 at the door but to avoid disappointment get them early at www.shmimprovimprov.ca/ the-perfect-date-night.
Food Frolic 2025 goes Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.at the Hart Highlands Winter Club (Hart Ski Hill). This is a fundraiser to support Spinal Cord Injury BC local programs and services and the Hart Ski Hill Universal upgrades. The event features Food Celebration Stations, live country music by Crazy Spur and there’s a dance, too. There is a silent
auction and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $50 at the club.
BC Old Time Fiddlers’ Jams and Lessons go every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Everyone is welcome to attend. Drop-in fee is $5 at the door.
Games Night goes every Thursday at
7 p.m at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Come on down and join in a game of backgammon, checkers, crib or better yet try out the pool table or dart board, please bring your own darts. Open to everyone for a $5 drop in fee.
Craft & Chat at the main branch of
by Robert Harling
Steel Magnolias
the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor, where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest.
Parkinson Support Group meetings are the third Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Meetings are informal and are for sharing information about slowing down the progression of PD. There are guest speakers, special events and biweekly exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Use lower parking lot beside ball diamond to access the seniors centre.
Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. There’s something for everyone. The winning team gets a custom Nancy O’s Trivia trophy and a round of drinks, their photo on the wall that goes into the winners’ book after two weeks. Those caught cheating will be publicly shamed and labelled as cheaters – good wholesome fun. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066.
If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too. LOCF
MADBOMB/FACEBOOK PHOTO
The Prince George band Madbomb will be at the Omenica Arts Centre’s Pal-entine’s show on Saturday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Also performing: Brainium and Examine the Bore. Tickets are $17 or $25 at the door.
SATURDAY FEB 15, 2025
Veteran’s Plaza – City Hall 11am to 4pm
New PG big band about to make performance debut
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
There will be 18 musicians on the stage as the Big Enuff Big Band hosts their premiere performance on Valentine’s Day at Knox Performance Centre.
Musicians on saxophones, trumpets, trombones and a rhythm section will come together for some big band sound featuring jazz standards and swing.
It’s been a few years since there’s been a big band in Prince George.
In the Mood Big Band retired in 2011 after being in the community since about 1995.
About five years ago rumblings could be heard throughout the music community about getting another big band started.
Trumpet player Gregory Prosser and eight other musicians from the original big band came together with newbies to make this musical splash in Prince George.
The rehearsal schedule looks a bit different with this new big band where they gather once a month at Knox Performance Centre to rehearse.
After a few months the urge to start performing in public took over and in November the band decided that a Valentine’s Day event would be perfect to show the community some love.
“There are nine originals, we’ll call them and the rest are new to the band,” Prosser said.
“The rhythm section is all professionals that we are thrilled to have. Honestly, I think everybody played in high school in a jazz ensemble that is similar to this and it was a bug that bit pretty hard back in those days. Back then the most fun you could have was playing in a group like this and it still feels like that.”
In addition to being a band for hire, Prosser said Big Enuff Big Band wants to be involved with community events.
Right now the band is looking to be part of Canada Day celebrations, PGSO’s Pops in the Park, Summerfest and even the BC Northern Exhibition.
“The impact of an 18-piece band
JOSH HASKINS PHOTO
The newly formed Big Enuff Big Band is seen here in rehearsal. The 18-piece band makes its premier appearance at Knox Performance Centre on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14.
Better futures for babies with congenital heart disease
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
New information about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) has been released, showing that more and more individuals are surviving and thriving despite this disease.
CHD occurs at birth and affects approximately one in 100 children. It causes defects in the heart or greater vessels and can present anything from mild symptoms to life-threatening ones.
According to the latest available published data, 257,000 people in Canada are living with CHD with many more undiagnosed due to the nature of the disease.
One of those people is Prince George resident Heather Livingstone’s daughter Britta. “It’s certainly thrown a wrench in the works of our day-to-day life,” said Livingstone. “It was pretty normal before we had our youngest and we were thrown suddenly into surgeries and going back and forth to the Children’s Hospital. That whole first year of her life was just completely upside down.”
Due to CHD Livingstone’s daughter is without a tricuspid valve, causing her left ventricle to not fully develop. This can be a fatal condition without complex surgeries.
“I was still pregnant when we were diagnosed,” said Livingstone “We found out there was something wrong but she didn’t get her actual diagnosis until after delivery because everything happened really kind of quickly, we were lucky to know that there was something wrong
She’s had three open heart surgeries, but the future is, we don’t know, right? Kids are just small. People are just sort of starting to live later into adulthood, and so we’re still learning what happens when you get in your 30s and 40s with a single ventricle heart.”
However, recent information released from the Heart and Stroke Foundation has shown that nine in 10 infants
diagnosed with CHD are now living to adulthood.
This is due to better and earlier detection, more complex procedures with less invasive practices and easier access to specialized care.
One physician who has been on the front line of CHD treatment and specialized care is Dr. Kevin Harris who specializes in pediatric cardiology.
“I think every patient has an impact
differently,” said Harris.”Providing care for patients across the age spectrum and in different communities is something that I enjoy. And so at BC Children’s Hospital, we’re fortunate that we do travelling clinics. I go to places like Prince George to try and provide care in local communities. That isn’t necessarily something that’s broadly available across Canada and all the different types of communities. That’s one of the things that Heart and Stroke are trying to emphasize is to make sure that patients have access to specialized care no matter where they live.”
Specialized care is very important to patients suffering from CHD as often treatment or specialists can be located in different cities or have long wait times.
Gaps that need to be addressed to increase the quality of care for people suffering from CHD include a lack of access to nurses, social workers, and psychologists, a lack of access for rural patients with specific needs and a lag in treatment as younger patients grow into adults with CHD.
Due to these gaps, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has been leading the development of a national strategy and trying to develop action plans to improve the systems of care and the equity and access to care.
Heart and Stroke is focused on six priority areas to address gaps: Specialized care, evidence-based care, optimal transitions, integrated health systems, community integration and whole-person care.
AiMHI names Wendy Brophy new chief executive officer
CITIZEN STAFF
Wendy Brophy has been named as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of AiMHi, board president Holly Kavanaugh announced Friday, Feb. 7.
Brophy, who has been with the organization for more than 25 years, currently serves as the chief services officer. Since joining AiMHi in 1991, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the individuals supported by
the organization, Kavanaugh stated, adding that her experience and passion are expected to be instrumental in the continued success of AiMHi in the community.
“We are grateful that Wendy has accepted this role,” Kavanaugh stated.
“This leadership opportunity comes as the current CEO, Mark Zuberbuhler, transitions to a new position in the Lower Mainland.”
Brophy will officially begin her role as
CEO on Feb. 14.
AiMHi, a registered charity focused on community living in British Columbia, is one of the largest employers in Prince George, with more than 500 employees. The organization supports more than 1,000 individuals living with developmental disabilities across Prince George, Smithers and Mackenzie.
For more information about AiMHi and its services, visit https://aimhi.ca or contact 250-564-6408.
AIMHI PHOTO
Wendy Brophy, a longtime employee of AiMHi, is the organization’s new chief executive officer.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Heather Livingstone spends time with her daughter Britta, who has a congenital heart disease.
Canadian Cancer Society offers support in hard times
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
Cancer is expensive.
Not only are you dealing with a serious health crisis but on top of that the average BCer spends $33,000 in their lifetime after diagnosis.
“That’s $33,000 out of pocket and that’s huge,” said Carolyn Knox, senior director for access to care, Canadian Cancer Society.
To help with the financial burden, the BC government expanded its Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services program and that’s good news for people who must leave home and stay elsewhere for treatment.
“This program tries to alleviate that financial toxicity as much as we can,” Knox said. “So we provide travel grants for people who have to leave their own communities for cancer treatment. We also have the Wheels of Hope Program in communities and surrounding areas where volunteer drivers use fleet vehicles and sometimes volunteers use their own vehicles, to get people to treatment.
Shirley Campbell uses her own car as a volunteer driver for the Wheels of Hope program.
Campbell had just returned from dropping off a cancer patient at a appointment in town when The Citizen caught up with her.
“It’s nice to be able to help people – the lady I just dropped off has come from Kitimat for her cancer treatment,” Campbell said. “It’s nice to chat with people and get to know their story. They’re just lovely and they’re going through a tough time. So I just try to do anything I can to try to make it easier for them. I try to be uplifting and everyone is so grateful.”
Campbell has been volunteering for the last four years and was inspired to start when her friends in Squamish told her they were volunteering in the same way.
“That’s how I heard about it and I thought ‘well, I’ve got some free time and I like to drive so maybe I’ll try it’ so I did and I really enjoy it.”
Mostly it’s short trips around the city but every now and again journeys are a little longer.
Prince George residents living in the outlying areas need rides, too. So when Campbell volunteers to assist patients living nearby it could be an hour-long round trip from town to where the patient lives and then another round trip after the appointment later in the day.
“When people ask me why I volunteer I always say people are always good to me so this is a way I can pay it forward,” Campbell said, talking about neighbours who shovel her driveway at 6:30 in the morning or look after her dog when she goes away.
Campbell moved to Prince George about eight years ago to be closer to family.
“People have always been very friendly and welcoming here,” she said. “And I like driving – I even drive the grandkids – so this is a good volunteer job for me.”
Campbell usually volunteers Tuesdays and Thursdays to work around her schedule and she can volunteer as much or as little as she’d like.
Campbell knows she can get reimbursed for her mileage as part of her volunteer duties but she chooses to donate it back to the Canadian Cancer Society.
She said it’s very rewarding knowing she’s helping with what could be a rather stressful situation. Most patients are coming from out of town and have no vehicle of their own and trying to find their way around town can take its toll.
And that’s why Campbell volunteers. She knows people are already struggling with their illness.
“I just want to make it easier for them to get to where they need to go,” Campbell said.
“And when I hear their stories they also tell me how grateful they are for the treatment centre.”
The Kordyban Lodge in Prince George is a perfect example of how people getting treatment can get a financial break. Patients stay free and get a home-like atmosphere and meals, too.
“We now provide free accommodation and meals at the lodges for cancer patients,” Knox said.
“It used to be $55 a day and now it’s free and it’s made a huge difference.”
In 2024 there were 26,700 nights of free accommodation provided at Canadian Cancer Society lodges.
“And we’re very proud of that and at the same time it’s a drop in the bucket,” Knox said. “We’re here to help everyone so please don’t hesitate to reach out.”
Here’s how the Canadian Cancer Society supports people with cancer:
• Financial assistance: Grants for travel expenses related to cancer care, including for those who need to travel or temporarily relocate for leukemia/bone marrow transplant
• Accommodations: Free lodging and meals at no cost to the patients at one of the CCS lodges near treatment centres
• Ground transportation: Through the Wheels of Hope program that connect patients needing free transportation to medical centres with volunteer drivers
In addition, Hope Air provides free flights for those who need to travel by air for their appointments.
Along with the financial assistance people can access services like the Cancer Information Helpline that’s toll free at 1-888-939-3333 and provides specific information about different types of cancer, what to expect from treatment and also offers emotional support. There is also a community services locator that sees a full data base for every community.
There is a program called Cancer Connection, which is an online community to connect, learn and share stories with people with similar experiences with cancer.
Access the service by visiting www. cancerconnection.ca/s/
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Shirley Campbell is a volunteer driver in Prince George for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program where she takes out-of-town patients to their local appointments during cancer treatment.
Winter wildlife
Photographer Anne Spiers celebrates the natural world in and around Prince George
ABOVE: This picture of a fox in Anne Spiers’ yard was featured as Canadian Geographic’s Photo of the Week last month.
CENTRE: A great gray owl: This photo was featured by both Global National and Global BC news.
A river otter surfaces.
RIGHT: A raven takes flight.
Two Rivers Gallery features photojournalist, artists
New show features Amber Bracken, Betty Kovacic and Emily Neufeld
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The Two Rivers Gallery opened a new exhibition showing the work of three artists on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 6, including that of a world-renowned photojournalist who was arrested while covering the Wet’suwet’en protests against a natural gas pipeline in 2021.
In one of the rooms of the main gallery is Dreamers, a showcase of pictures taken in different locales in North American by World Press Photo Award-winning photojournalist Amber Bracken, the only Canadian woman to have earned that honour.
The other gallery room features The Road Not Taken, which has works by Prince George-based Canadian artist Betty Kovacic and North Vancouver-based artist Emily Neufeld. Kovacic’s pieces include art made on slabs of reclaimed copper as well as hanging pieces made with reclaimed plexiglass.
Neufeld’s work is an installation made up of photos of abandoned mining shacks laid out on photo plates jutting out from the floor on a bed of rocks, reminiscent of a riverbed.
The three artists each gave a talk about their work on Feb. 6. The Citizen visited the gallery earlier in the day to interview them.
Bracken said while her photographs have been displayed as part of larger shows before, the installation at the Two Rivers Gallery is her first-ever solo exhibition.
She said gallery curator Ehsan Mohammadi reached out to her expressing interest in showcasing her work and the two of them worked together to select the pieces on display. The photos are from a wide range of locales and events. One shows a man on the concrete remains of a riverside
bridge near Bracken’s hometown of Edmonton.
Another shows a run-over rabbit on the side of a highway, taken while Bracken was covering the protests in North Dakota over the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016.
The photo taken closest to Prince George is an image of a moose taken through the scope of a hunting rifle while Bracken was in Wet’suwet’en territory near Smithers covering the protests against the Coastal Gaslink natural gas pipeline for The Narwhal.
Despite those last two photos being taken on the periphery of protests, the gallery doesn’t focus on any one event.
“It didn’t feel good to me to focus just on one story, on two stories,” Bracken said. “I ended up kind of pulling together a really big cross-section of my archive.”
There are, however, some common themes among the works selected. There’s a focus on tactility, with some closeups of humans interacting with textures in their environment. Bracken said it wasn’t intentional, but looking back over the last decade, a lot of her work about land and people’s relationship with it.
“I’m hoping that when people come, what they’ll reflect on is the
relationship in an ongoing sense with our most immediate neighbours and hosts is really central to the idea of being Canadian,” Bracken said, referring to Indigenous peoples.
“I think it intersects with so many contemporary issues that are of just general concern to the public. Land issues intersect with energy, they intersect with environment, they intersect with democratic principle and policing.”
Some of the events Bracken photographs are not always well-covered by other media outlets.
She said that when it comes to things like the Dakota Access Pipelines or Coastal Gaslink, it’s not a challenge to get the perspective from the companies, governments or police involved.
inescapability of the fact that you are, whether you know it or not, in relationship to land and place,” she said. “It’s just a matter of figuring out what kind of relationship you want to have.”
There’s also displays of people interacting with their environment in general, as well as some showcasing of First Nations and Indigenous cultures.
“This is a photo from when I tagged along on a moose hunt,” Bracken said of the moose photo. “The hunter had taken a long time and we were on foot, so it was quite difficult.
“It was long hiking through deep snow. It was not an easy go. The hunter had found a moose and had it in the sights but ultimately decided not to pull the trigger as it was deemed to be a juvenile and not mature. They were trying to allow populations to regenerate in the area.”
While it wasn’t immediate to the larger event she was covering at the time, Bracken said it showed the context in which the Wet’suwet’en were going to keep their traditional lifestyle alive and how they were managing their natural resources.
She said part of the messy idea of Canadian patriotism is that we think of ourselves as good neighbours.
“I think that paying attention to our
“You can call them, you can email them, they’ll give press conferences,” Bracken said. “You don’t have to pay for hotels … whereas getting to the opposition to these projects is physically challenging. They’re often remote, they’re often complicated by weather or challenging roads. It can be financially challenging because you have to travel and it takes time.”
Once you arrive, Bracken said it can also be difficult to cultivate trust — maybe you can’t get through a police blockade or campers won’t talk to you. But she said she sees it as part of her job to try and balance the discourse on these issues by providing access to perspectives from all sides.
During her evening talk, Bracken said she sees her role in covering these events as non-interventionist. She doesn’t direct people and doesn’t tell them what to do.
“I just have to be present, be educated, watch things unfold and look for those moments that tell the story as it’s been informed to me.”
In November 2021, while providing coverage of the Coastal Gaslink protests for The Narwhal, Bracken and fellow freelance journalist Michael Toledano were arrested by the RCMP alongside protesters despite identifying themselves as journalists.
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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Emily Neufeld answers questions about her sculpture at the opening of her exhibit with Amber Bracken and Betty Kovacic at Two Rivers Gallery Thursday, Feb 6.
Exhibits include ‘Dreamers’ and ‘The Road Not Taken’
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Those arrested were eventually taken to Prince George and held in custody before a judge ordered Bracken and Toledano’s release. Coastal GasLink dropped civil contempt charges against the journalists the next month.
A lawsuit filed by Bracken against the RCMP over her arrest is still working its way through the courts.
Returning to PG after the arrest to celebrate her work, Bracken said it was a recognition that she has to carry on.
“I’ve had a lot of experiences here and it’s unfortunate that one of them was that experience, but it’s not the only one, you know?” she said.
Kovacic is no stranger to the Two Rivers Gallery, with some of her works part of the gallery’s permanent collection. However, her work has also been featured in exhibitions across BC and Alberta.
Her name for the works currently on display is We Are One, which were showcased at the Smithers Art Gallery last summer.
Her biggest pieces on display are images on sheets of copper salvaged from her family’s farm, found by her husband. In fact, to the best of her ability, most the materials used in her pieces were either salvaged or donated.
After burning off the pollution on the copper, Kovacic said she thought the colours and patterns on the metal that emerged were beautiful and she didn’t want to cover them. That’s why the images painted onto the metal are only lines and not full figures.
“I added lines with the idea that, from a distance, the paintings almost look like they’re abstract, but as the viewer comes closer, the animals are revealed,” Kovacic said. “Almost all the animals are … endangered or threatened or at risk.”
One of the images is in the shape of the human circulatory system. Laid overtop of the metal sheet is a plexiglass triangle with an outline of a fetus painted on it in blue.
“In this body of work, I’m actually looking at the connection between
humans, nature and all of nature’s citizens,” Kovacic said.
“The circulatory system was for a project about water. I was thinking that the circulatory system of the human being, or any animal that has a circulatory system, looks much like rivers. I thought that was interesting because the veins in our body look like the rivers on the land when viewed from above or on a map.”
Accompanying the copper sheets are plexiglass triangles hanging from the wall with images of the limbs of animals on them. Hanging from the triangles are smaller pieces of plexiglass with images of other animals.
That series is called Interdependent. Kovacic said she wanted to give the idea that these animals are hanging by a thread.
“The different animal feet that you see, there’s a koala bear, an eagle, an octopus and a human hand,” she said. “What I wanted to show is that we are all interdependent on each other. It’s not just humas who are holding up life, it’s all the other creatures as well.
“In my personal philosophy and spiritual belief, I think that everything is connected and shares an energy and shares almost like a poetic connection made of life and light and energy.”
Neufeld’s work, titled Overburden, is the hardest to explain without visual
of a former mining community and find nothing left. Other times, truckers on forestry roads would help her track down the location of remaining structures.
Part of the intent behind the piece is to examine why humans place value on certain things, like gold. It’s currently in use in the manufacture of electronics, but during the gold rush, society had determined that its aesthetic qualities meant it was worth a lot of money.
“I just think sometimes that destroying the planet that’s actually providing us with food and shelter in order to get this useless gold metal is a weird choice to make,” Neufeld said.
reference. From a distance it looks like a series of pillars holding up square plates, emerging from a bed of rocks, almost like a topographical map.
When you get closer, you see that the plates are in groups, displaying photo collages of different worn-out shacks. In some of the photos, there are embellishments of gold or silver foil stuck to the structures.
She told The Citizen that her piece is about gold and silver mining ghost towns in BC as well as resource extraction in general. Her work has been centred around homes at the end of their lifespan for the last 15 years, she said.
“I’ve made work in homes that were slated for demolition in the Lower Mainland where they’re putting in infills of higher densification or just bigger houses,” Neufeld said. “Then I did work in abandoned farmhouses across the prairies where the larger farms conglomerate together and we end up with homes on a quarter-section that are no longer (occupied).”
The photos on the plates are of log cabins deep in the woods left over from mining communities. The layout of the piece, she said, is based on claims map from the Quesnel Forks area.
She said she had to do a lot of research to find the cabins she photographed. Sometimes she would arrive at the site
When she was in the Quesnel Forks area, she said she met a couple from Quebec who had come out because one of their fathers had come out in the sixties to pan for hold. He died in his eighties without finding anything.
“They were like ‘we just wished he’d come home and spend time with us, but he wanted to be this hero who brought home these riches for his family.’”
Neufeld imagines that the exhibit will look different if and when it travels to other venues because it will need to be adapted to fit in other buildings. She said the rocks beneath the piece were brought in by Rolling Mix Concrete.
On the afternoon before the show opened, the room was set up with large fans blasting air at the installation, trying to get any water on the rocks to evaporate.
She said she was “thrilled” to have her works displayed alongside Bracken and Kovacic.
“I think Betty offers a hopeful future, not exactly a utopia, but an idea of a different approach we could take to working alongside the other creatures that we share this planet with,” Neufeld said. “I think Amber has a very similar critique of resource extraction and a very similar reverence for the natural world that actually feeds and houses us.”
The three artists’ work will be on display until April 13. Kovacic will also be facilitating a workshop about self-expression through visual art at the end of March as well as teaching spring break art workshops for kids.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Edmonton-based photojournalist Amber Bracken delivers the artist talk at the opening of her exhibit Dreamers at Two Rivers Gallery Thursday, Feb 6.
Steel Magnolias set to charm at Theatre NorthWest
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Theatre NorthWest is inviting local audiences to its new production of Steel Magnolias.
The play revolves around the charming beauty salon owned by Truvy Jones and the close-knit group of women who frequent it, all set against the backdrop of a small Louisiana town.
If that sounds familiar that may be because the original play by Robert Harling was adapted into a movie which helped launch Julia Roberts’s career.
Steel Magnolias director Melissa Glover said she’s excited to bring this classic to Prince George.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had an all-female cast on stage,” said Glover.
“This show just really touches on how strong women can be at their most vulnerable like when you’re in a beauty salon. I think we really wanted to show that on stage, that these women are dealing with really difficult things, and there’s so much humour in it. Robert Harling, the playwright, has done such a great job at creating really sincere and genuine characters that are well-rounded. We really wanted to share that with the audiences of Prince George.”
This is the second show Glover has directed at Theatre Northwest, and she said this one has been her biggest challenge yet.
However, she has seen the actors
Morris as Annelle and Sanda Clermont as Clairee rehearse a scene from Theatre NorthWest’s production of Steel
collaborate and work very hard to bring the characters to life.
She also told The Citizen that staging the play presents some challenges.
“I think the hardest thing is that one of the characters gets their hair cut on stage,” said Glover.
”I’m freaking out here going, oh my goodness, how do we do this? … So figuring out how to solve that sort of problem and you can’t cut that part.
You have to use wigs, styling wigs, styling people’s wedding hairstyle in a span of like three to four pages of dialogue when it typically can take up to three to four hours to get an updo for a wedding. That sort of stuff has been a challenge that we’ve adapted to fairly
well. Everybody just jumped in and like, hey, we’re going to do this.”
With showtime coming up everyone from the actors to managers and even costume designers are working hard to get the production ready for PG audiences.
“I am just looking forward to seeing the audience’s reaction,” Glover said during a break from a recent dress rehearsal.
“As a director, once we get the audience in, I just watch them, not the actors on stage. I just love to see our audiences react with laughter … It was a movie as well. So I think a lot of our audience members will be familiar with the movie. The difference in the play
is that it takes place all in the beauty salon. So a lot of the biggest emotional things that happen in the show happen off stage. So I’m just looking forward to that and letting these incredible actors have fun with the show once rehearsal is done and the show is up and running.
The play is set to run from Thursday, Feb. 13 to Wednesday, March 5. Showtimes are 7 p.m. for the late show and 2 p.m. for the matinée.
Tickets can be found online at www. theatrenorthwest.com, at the Theatre NorthWest box office, which is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 36-556 North Nechako Rd. or by calling 250-563-6969 ext. 306.
Downtown Winterfest means frosty family fun Saturday
by Ephemeral Arts & Friends.
This year’s Downtown Winterfest is going to be full of activities Saturday at Veteran’s Plaza at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Prince George is bringing the winter fun with help from Ness Lake Bible Camp, which has constructed an ice slide and ice sculptures carved live
As well, local athletes will also be hosting a Canadian classic; road hockey will be available to anyone who brings a stick.
This is on top of all the fun family-friendly activities planned by Engage Sport North, Tourism Prince George, Two Rivers Gallery and the YMCA Resource Centre.
In addition to all these classic winter
activities Downtown PGis also offering an Outdoor Food Court with offerings from Frank’s Family Concession, Afro Caribbean Cuisine and The Gosling by the White Goose Bistro.
If your tastebuds want to really embrace winter, Tourism PG and le Cercle Des Canadiens Français are offering a true Canadian classic maple taffy, which is sugar candy made by pouring boiling maple syrup on snow,
then rolling it up.
The Royal Canadian Legion is offering a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Downtown retailers will be open, and the Prince George Farmers’ Market and Q3 Community Market will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering local fresh farm-to-table food.
For more information visit www. downtownpg.com.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
Michelle
MATTHEW HILLIER
Citizen Staff
Winter paddle boarding showcased in new short film
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
Tourism Prince George just released its latest video featuring certified stand-up paddle board instructor Kimberley Kenyon as she enjoys a winter adventure on the Crooked River about an hour north of Prince George.
Kenyon, who has a surfing background, has spent years paddle boarding in the summer, including on white water, which is a whole other extreme sport.
“I heard you could surf on the rivers with your paddle board and that appealed to me because I wanted to play a bit on the water,” Kenyon said.
But winter paddling is something different.
Tourism PG approached Kenyon about doing the short film in partnership with 6ix Sigma Productions.
“6ix Sigma is pretty outstanding,” Kenyon said. “Their director Dan (Stark) and I were having a casual conversation about the idea of the winter paddling video and that brought up a little saying that came into my life - ‘though the world is frozen above, water still flows beneath’ – and he said to me ‘I think you’re on to something’ and we just took it from there.”
During the gorgeously shot film it might not really about the paddling but more about a philosophical look at life that reflects Kenyon’s insight into her approach to winter paddling.
“Dan invited me into the sound booth, played this ambient music and he started asking me questions and he told me to just speak from the heart,” Kenyon said. “I came out of the sound booth an hour and a half later and he’s like ‘I feel like I just went through my own Ted Talk’ and I was like ‘what?’”
During the session Stark asked critical questions about life and priorities and values, Kenyon said.
“We talked about where I put my energy, how I expend myself.”
All that is reflected during the experience of being on the water, she added.
“I teared up when I saw the film the first time,” Kenyon said.
“I was like ‘wow, this is definitely not
what I was expecting.’ I knew it was going to be good but I didn’t expect that. To see yourself in a third person perspective when it’s so put together and displayed that way it’s kind of like ‘whoah’.”
Kenyon said usually when people look at her in the middle of her canyon runs on her paddle board or white water runs that rafts usually do on the rivers they get a different impression of her that’s pretty much the exact opposite of what is depicted in the film.
“But when people look at me from the outside they think I’m nuts - I’m usually pretty intense - out on the water four or five times a week in the summer, training in the gym doing full body workouts two or three times a week but when I have my head down there’s a focus that also gives me peace,” Kenyon explained.
She’s heard some different reactions to the film that illustrates a completely different side to her.
To say the least, people have expressed surprise about winter paddle boarding, Kenyon said.
“My reaction to their comments was ‘you should see what I do in the other seasons,’” she laughed.
“But when we go out in nature it should be meditative in a way. People should allow their minds to be at ease and just be in a state of flow and be away from everyday thoughts and pressures. That’s the experience people should have. I want people to have an eye-opening experience and an aha moment in a way.”
There are always risks involved in trying unique sports in frigid water in the middle of winter so Kenyon advises extreme caution.
“Alongside the regular hazards of paddling come different deadly ones, such as cold-water shock, ice shelves, heightened hypothermia risk, and floating ice debris,” Kenyon said.
“Choosing a safe location and managing these risks is vital to a safe paddling experience. Paddlers dress for cold water immersion, including items like a life vest/PFD, drysuit, sufficient thermal layers, head, hands and feet thermal protection. Winter requires extra attention to the weather, such as temperatures, wind, and hours of sunlight. Paddlers know the limits to their skills and knowledge and stay well within them.”
Kenyon is a certified and experienced paddle boarder and is confident on the water and always comes prepared.
“Paddle boarding consumes my life,” Kenyon said. “It’s almost like a second job but it’s a fun job. It came from learning lake skills, different paddle
strokes and getting control of my board, to learn the environment of the river and how my board reacts to it and how to apply different skills to different currents and river features and I have slowly developed a skill set that’s got me to where I’m at now.”
And if there’s one warning Kenyon can impart this is it.
“If you go paddle boarding on the river do not wear an ankle leash, it’s like a ball and chain and if it gets hooked up on something it’s going to sink you,” Kenyon said. “I want to be really clear about that. There are fatalities that have come from river paddling and that’s the reason. So no leash and always wear a life vest.”
Prince George is known for its four seasons and a wide variety of outdoor activities, said Colin Carson, CEO of Tourism Prince George.
“This video highlights our beautiful winter scenery and encourages tourists to experience sports in a fresh, innovative way,” Carson added. “Winter paddle boarding is something truly unique to our region.”
Watch the special adventure at www. tourismpg.ca/winterpaddleboarding. For more information about Kenyon and paddle boarding visit www.borntoboardca or connect with her on social media. For more information about winter activities and SUP (stand-up paddle board) check out Tourism PG’s blog at tourismpg.com/winterpaddling-pg/.
TOURISM PG PHOTO
Kimberley Kenyon, certified stand-up paddle board instructor, is featured in the latest Tourism PG sport adventure video about winter paddle boarding.
Kenyon
This Hug is Twenty Seconds gets ready for Winterfest
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
This Hug is Twenty Seconds is a unique event hosted by unique people and offering a unique service.
The event was started by Aaron Vanderpool three years ago after the tragic passing of his child Tarajii. It honours the final gift they gave Vanderpool before their passing.
“I wanted to do something in the world, as opposed to just talking about it,” said Vanderpool.
“Me and another friend of mine were trying to figure out some kind of project that I could come up with … He said, oh, you should do some sort of hugging event, and I said, hold on a second, and I went to my fridge, and on my fridge, I have a self-made coupon that Taraji made for me, and it says Unlimited 20 Second Hugs. I was like, wow, this is serendipity in a sense.”
Since then Vanderpool has been working with the Foundry, a local wellness centre to bring comfort and contentment to Winterfest.
The event itself, in addition to the
Warming up with IceJam
John Wort Hannam shares his thoughts on songcraft with the 70 people who attended his workshop Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum. Hannam spent an hour entertaining and sharing his music and his thoughts on how to write and develop songs, going deep into his musical history, even having to dig out his songbook for a tune he hadn’t performed in 15 years. He answered questions and offered his take on different techniques to write as well as performing examples of the methods he has used. IceJam, presented by the Coldsnap Music Festival, included several free musical performances and workshops for adults and children over several days last week.
Aaron Vanderpool of This Hug is Twenty Seconds and event volunteers pose for a picture. They’ll be at Winterfest this weekend.
hugs, also offers a memorial board for locals to come and remember and pay respects to loved ones who have passed.
As well, organizers offer social workers for the Foundry to talk with locals about anything and everything.
Those who want to get a hug, post something on the memorial board or even just chat with the event hosts can stop by Foundry Prince George (1148 7th Ave, just off Veteran’s Square) between 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Research shows that 20-second long hugs boost “happy” hormones like oxytocin and others and can relieve tension, raise your mood, and reduce stress overall, Vanderpool said.
Previous events have been very well attended in the past two years, with hundreds of locals and others online sharing hugs and memories of loved ones.
Vanderpool told The Citizen that even if you don’t want a hug you are more than welcome to chat or share memories.
“Any and all participation is welcome,” said Vanderpool. “Even if someone comes and they don’t want to hug and they don’t want to put anything on the memorial board, but they just want to talk about something important to them. Maybe they want to talk about someone that they’ve lost or how they’re feeling. That’s perfect. It’s really about getting the community to engage and giving people the opportunity and the space to connect with those feelings that they may not want to or have had the opportunity to connect with in the past.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Throwback Thursday: Week of February 13
Feb. 12, 1971: It was Valentine’s Day with a difference at Quinson Elementary School. The children decided not to exchange the usual Valentine cards and to put the money saved toward the cost of a wheelchair for a little girl in Burns Lake. Rodney Schlitt, 7, and Leanne Bodnar, also 7, are two of the children taking part in the Red Cross Centennial project. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY RICK HULL
Feb. 13, 1959: These little tykes play hockey with every bit of heart and hustle they possess. They are members of the Fifth Avenue Pharmacy team of the Peewee division of the Minor Hockey League in Prince George. Standing, from left, are Rober Ball, Kenny Faranski, Colin Milne, Jack Dobie (coach), Tony Tennessy, Wayne Westlund and Keith McKellar. Seated, from left, are Richard Thompson, Grant Bristow, Ron Phillips, Henry Holst, Bryan Latham and Bruce Bressette. Not present when the picture was taken were Ricky McCabe, Murray Robertson and Duane Wallin. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY HAL VANDERVOORT
Feb. 14, 2012: Michelle Lehoux hits off a pitch by her sister Nicki during Saturday’s over the Line Snowball action at Dillman’s Field in Beaverly. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY
Feb. 13, 1992: Gerald Faucher is over the top as he presses Michael Antoine to the limit at the second annual Prince George Secondary School arm wrestling championships. Former world champion and (at the time) Canadian champion Vern Martel was the referee. The three-day competition drew more than 50 contenders in eight weight classes plus a throng of spectators in the PGSS cafeteria. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE
CHUCK NISBETT
MILNE
Healthy North
NH Stories: Cuddling babies in neonatal intensive care
NICUs, also known as intensive care nurseries, provide special care for babies who were born prematurely or with other health challenges. At UHNBC a special group of volunteers devotes time to cuddling premature or sick newborns, providing many benefits for their health. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/ydfskzmz
Is the ER the right place for you?
For life-threatening emergencies like chest pains, difficulty breathing, broken bones, or severe bleeding, the ER is the place to be.
For routine health checkups, pharmaceutical renewals, or less urgent health concerns – call your family care provider, dial 8-1-1 to speak to a health service professional, book an appointment with the Northern Health Virtual Clinic by calling 1-844-645-7811, or book an appointment with a pharmacist for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives (www2.gov.bc.ca/ gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/pharmacyservices)
Cuddling babies: ‘It’s
When the parents can’t be there, volunteers step in to help in the neonatal intensive care unit
ANNE SCOTT Northern Health
A few months ago, I started volunteering as a “cuddler,” holding and comforting sick and premature babies in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
According to Children’s Healthcare Canada, “science clearly supports that caregiver touch has a powerful effect on babies’ brains and bodies, optimizing healthy growth and development, both in the short and long term.”
Parents always have priority and are the best source of comfort for their own newborns, but when they can’t be there, volunteer cuddlers (who are thoroughly screened and trained) can step in to fill the gap. Below, I describe my experiences and those of other volunteer cuddlers.
Thursday, 9 a.m.: I arrive at the NICU at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George for my two-hour volunteer cuddling shift. (Yes, holding and comforting hospitalized newborns is actually called “cuddling.” I love this and find it hilarious to get emails from the volunteer coordinators with the salutation, “Hello, Cuddlers!”)
NICUs, also known as intensive care nurseries, provide special care for babies who were born prematurely or with other health challenges. At UHNBC, the largest of the Northern Health’s 18 hospitals, each tiny patient in the NICU has their own private room and a nurse dedicated to their care. In addition to a bassinet or incubator, each room also has a closet, mini fridge, and double-size adult bed to make it easy for parents to spend time with their little ones. This is a concept called “dyad care,” which has been shown to result in better health outcomes for newborns (the word “dyad” is based on Latin and Greek words meaning “two.”) According to Health Canada, “… the early mother–infant dyad experience profoundly
not hard work, it’s heart work’
affects infant and chid development and the health of the family.”
“We’re very lucky to have the private rooms, and it’s amazing to have the adult bed in here so the parent can stay, if they’re able,” says Tabitha O’Donnell of Prince George, who slept several nights in the NICU with her premature baby Amelia.
Today all the other babies in the NICU have family with them, so the nurses direct me to Room 6 to cuddle little Bryce. (Except where parents gave permission in writing, all the babies’ names and details have been changed to protect their privacy.)
According to the whiteboard in his room, he currently weighs just 4 pounds 11 ounces (2.1 kilograms). It may not seem like much, but he’s made great progress from when he was born at 29 weeks, weighing just over 3 pounds (1.4
“nurturing, cuddling” as essential needs for newborns.
One reason they’re so important is that cuddling promotes the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone.” It plays a crucial role in bonding and social connection, and can help create a sense of security and comfort for fragile newborns, reducing their stress levels and helping them cope with the challenges of being born too soon.
As well, the warmth of another human body helps premature babies sleep better and maintain stable oxygen levels and body temperature.
“A lot of times with our premature babies, if they’re having lots of dips in their oxygen levels, they can really benefit from snuggling -- it brings their levels back up,” says NICU nurse Nicole P. “It also helps with their heart rate and breathing; they regulate those things with the person they’re snuggling with.”
Finally, studies show that preemies who experience more cuddling tend to gain weight more quickly, which helps them go home with their families sooner – the goal everyone in the NICU is striving for.
kilograms).
The nurses in the NICU are understandably protective of babies’ and families’ privacy, so the only information I and the other cuddlers are privy to is what’s displayed on the whiteboards in each room: the baby’s and parents’ first names (no last names, ever!), plus the baby’s birth weight, current weight, and feeding details.
I gently lift the tiny blanket-wrapped bundle out of the bassinet and settle myself in a large armchair. Bryce sighs in his sleep and nestles against me.
“Enjoy your snuggles!” says the nurse as she leaves the room. Could this be the best volunteer role ever?
Cuddling premature or sick newborns provides many benefits for their health.
As mentioned in Perinatal Services
BC’s Newborn Nursing Care Pathway, the World Health Organization lists
“It’s really the best medicine – a loving person, rather than medication,” says Dr. Simon Earl, a Prince George pediatrician. “Babies are in the NICU for a shorter period, they recover better, and I’m pretty sure their long-term outcomes are better.”
Saturday, 6 p.m.: I’m at UHNBC for another NICU shift; I usually do one twohour shift a week. This time, I’m directed to the room of premature twins Ellie and Rolf. My first twins! I’m excited, but nervous. The nurse offers to hand them both to me, but I feel this might be too much and opt to cuddle only little Ellie. As always, I’m grateful for the nurse’s help as he hands me the tiny girl. Like most of the babies I cuddle, she’s hooked up to multiple sensors that monitor her heart rate, blood oxygen, and breathing, and managing all the leads is sometimes difficult. As well, I notice that she has a tiny feeding tube snaking into her nose.
KTW FILE PHOTO
Volunteers give newborn babies the gift of touch when their parents aren’t there.
Volunteers are carefully screened; waiting list is a year long
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Many premature babies need feeding tubes because their ability to swallow is still developing, and the tubes allow formula or breastmilk to be delivered directly to their stomachs. I notice on the twins’ whiteboard that Ellie gets 43 ml of formula every three hours around the clock (a grand total of 1.2 cups of food a day), and that she’s gained almost a pound (454 g) since birth – you go, girl!
The readings from Ellie’s and Rolf’s sensors are displayed on monitors in their room, as well as on duplicate monitors at the nurses’ station just outside the door. I notice that both twins tend to stop breathing for seconds at a time, triggering alarms. Am I doing something wrong?
Thankfully the nurse explains that although it’s nerve-wracking to witness, this “apnea of prematurity” is common in premature babies. It happens because the parts of the brain responsible for breathing are still under development. Each time it happens for more than a few seconds, he comes in to check, but all is well – both babies have good colour and are able to restart their breathing on their own.
Part way through my two-hour shift, I ask the nurse if I should switch babies –I’m worried that although he’s sleeping peacefully, baby Rolf is missing out on the snuggles.
However, the nurse explains this isn’t a good idea because too much stimulation (such as being taken in and out of their cribs) is bad for preemies, so it’s best if I spend my entire shift focused on just one baby.
For the same reason, rocking and singing are discouraged for some babies, and their rooms are kept dim and quiet. For preemies, the outside world is often an assault on the senses, and just being held quietly can be stimulation enough. When I was being trained for the cuddling role, I worried a lot about the babies I’d be working with. If they were crying or in pain, would I be able to comfort them? If they were ill, would I inadvertently make things worse? I was
Newborn babies who need special attention are cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Northern BC.
relieved to learn that volunteer cuddlers never even encounter the sickest and tiniest babies, because cuddling would stress these fragile newborns too much.
“If a baby is extremely sick or very small and fragile, cuddling may not be appropriate,” says NICU nurse Kelsey. “They often need their sleep as a priority.”
Nurse Nicole P. agrees. “A lot of our really premature babies only get handled during feed times, and we try not to handle them too much,” she says. “Some babies might be further along than others and might be able to have snuggles sooner, though – you really have to play it baby by baby.”
In a place that cares for medically fragile babies, you might expect the air to be loud with crying. I was surprised to find that this isn’t the case in the NICU -- it’s quiet and peaceful (and smells deliciously of clean laundry!) One reason for the quiet is that many premature babies show their discomfort in ways other than crying.
Nurse Nicole P. explained that when preemies are unhappy, their heart rates might increase, they might show changes in breathing patterns or skin colour (“events”), or they might squirm or grimace.
“They’ll start showing stress cues, they’ll start splaying their hands and they’ll start having events,” she says. These are the silent signs of distress that volunteer cuddlers are trained to
open up when I’m there for a couple of hours,” says cuddler Angie Bonazzo of Prince George. “It’s very restorative for both the baby and the cuddler. They heal us too; it’s powerful stuff.”
Cuddler David agrees. “I find it enables me to unplug from a stressful life and just go in there and focus on the babies’ needs,” he says. “I don’t need to think about what’s going in the world or in my life; I just focus on that little one in my arms. Life gets busy and sometimes I think of rescheduling, but I’m always glad afterwards that I did the volunteer shift.”
watch for.
Cuddling is among the most popular volunteer roles in healthcare, with a year-long waiting list to cuddle here in northern BC, and more than 100 volunteers on the waiting list at Interior Health’s Kelowna General Hospital in southern BC.
“I’ve always been a baby person,” says Valli Pasemko, a grandmother who’s been cuddling at UHNBC since spring 2023. “I think I’m going to have to keep doing this for a while. It’s too satisfying and too heartwarming. This is what I was meant to do – look after babies!”
Cuddler Ruth Marshall of Prince George brings a special perspective to the role, having given birth to a premature baby herself many years ago. “I’m very aware of the benefits of helping these little people,” says the grandmother of eight. “I like holding them; they’re so content and happy. You feel like you’re contributing.”
The cuddlers I spoke to agreed that the benefits definitely flow in both directions. When cuddling, you’re forced to be in the moment and fully present.
“What’s nice about it is you don’t have anything else to do,” says Marshall. “You’re not trying to do a load of laundry at the same time, the way you would at home with your own child or grandchild. It’s not just good for the baby, it’s beneficial for us as well.”
“It’s very calming; I can feel the space
Like all volunteer cuddlers, I went through a meticulous screening and training process that included a Criminal Record Check with the Ministry of Public Safety, references collected from two people, and an hour-long in-person interview with Northern Health’s Volunteer Resources team. Once I was accepted into the role, I was required to complete several hours of online training, followed by an in-person orientation to the NICU. This in-depth process ensures that volunteers are well suited for the role.
Training for volunteer cuddlers covers both general aspects and specific details about newborns and the NICU. Developed in-house by Northern Health, the training not only equips volunteers with practical skills, but also highlights the positive impact of cuddling on babies’ well-being. As well, knowing that the professionals are always at hand is reassuring for volunteer cuddlers.
Cuddler David was impressed by the program’s thoroughness. “It’s excellent,” he says. “You’re supported right from the interview, to the onboarding, to support in the unit, to the scheduling system. The process for getting into it was quite rigorous, which was absolutely appropriate. They’re looking for fit for the role.”
I know the babies I cuddle won’t remember me, but it feels so satisfying to contribute in a small way to improving their health. It also warms my heart when families say things like, “Thank you for loving her!” I think I’ll continue doing this as long as I can.
NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO
Local Sports
Deep freeze races: Iceman lives up to its name
An old-school tracking system decides the winner after competitor takes off his timing bracelet
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
After eight kilometres of skiing, 15 km of running, five km of skating and an 800 metre swim, James Sader crossed the finish line and the 38th annual Prince George Iceman title was his to claim.
If only he had his timing chip bracelet. The 28-year-old Sader didn’t realize he was without it until Ben Fandrick, the swim finish volunteer, told him it was the only thing that would stop the clock. Sader realized then he’d taken it off when he arrived at the pool at the end of his five- km run when he stripped off his clothes to jump into the water.
By the time Sader ran across to the other side of the pool to get his bracelet and passed the chip across the sensor, Josiah Wilkinson completed his swim and won the race.
Or so they thought.
As it turned out, the race is manually timed to back up the electronic system in case the computer crashes or someone’s timing chip gets lost or ends up at the bottom of the pool. It was determined that Sader indeed crossed had the finish first and he was declared the winner.
“We had hand-timers as well in case there were any glitches and there was a hand-timer at every station,” said Iceman chair Julie Ubdegrove. “Even
though James didn’t cross with his chip he still would have been recorded as crossing the finish line before Josiah.”
Sader’s winning time was 2:04:40.8, while Wilkinson finished in 2:06:35. Conrad Rowlands was third (2:09:39).
“I meant to have the timing chip on there, I guess, but I got out of the pool
and didn’t have it and went back to get it and I was second,” said Sader. “I guess I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t have the brain space for that. I’m kicking myself a little bit.”
Thankfully, he didn’t beat himself up too long for his mistake when he was told he did win.
In the swim, each solo competitor swims 16 lengths of the 50-metre pool. There are just eight lanes so that means getting out of the pool after eight lengths and repeating, crossing under the lane dividers after each length.
Sader thought he was finished after he completed his first eight lengths and was walking to the finish table on the pool deck when he was told he still had eight lengths to swim. He still had a comfortable lead by the time he was finally done.
As cold as it was Sunday, it was a beautiful calm and sunny day, which took some of the sting out of the air and Sader said he had an enjoyable race, until that bitter end.
“It was nice and sunny, I didn’t cramp in the skate, I’m happy about that, I didn’t get frostbite,” said Sader.
“The run was fun, I didn’t seize up too much. The ski was a little slow but we were all in the same boat. I thought the swim went well, until I finished the swim.
“I thought we had to take it off, I didn’t know it was waterproof. I couldn’t remember from last year and just chucked it there.”
Sader finished third in the 2024 Iceman, behind Wilkinson and first-place Alex Nemethy. Nemethy was not back to defend his title in Sunday’s race.
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CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
One competitor’s beard is frosted over during the run down Foothills Boulevard during the Prince George Iceman competition on Sunday.
Women’s winner just learned to speed-skate a month ago
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“I didn’t know (Sader) was that close,” said the 18-year-old Wilkinson, close to approaching national-calibre status as a triathlete. “I was running with Conrad (Rowlands), my buddy and we thought we were the ones ahead doing the 5K. I saw him and saw his triple-digit (number written in grease pen written on Sader’s shoulder) and that’s usually a solo number so I tried to pick up the last 50.
“Triathlons probably help me, I swim like every day. I’ve been doing (the Iceman) as part of team since I was 10. I’ve done this every year for a long time.”
The temperature did not rise above -19 C during the race and Wilkinson was not prepared for it during the 10-km run from Otway to the Exhibition Park ice oval.
“It was pretty cold, I was worried about my hands and toes and wasn’t really worried about other parts and it was pretty chilly out there,” he said. “But the sun came out and it got better.”
Juliette Davies, 25, a former University of Toronto track runner, won the Icewoman title, finishing in 2:16:39. Breanne Austin (2:23:02) was second and Cianna Pawluk (2:42:13) was third.
Davies just learned how to skate but she’s had the running part down pat for years and that put her in good stead considering more than half the total race distance involves running.
“My roommate’s boyfriend taught me to skate a month ago so I was pretty nervous about getting through the skate but I was feeling confident on the run, that’s my background, and the swim,” said Davies. “So I was just trying to go out there and see what I could do on the ski and the skate and hopefully it would come together and apparently it did.
“I tried to focus on knowing my strengths. I didn’t have a watch on my pace but I felt good through all of it.”
The -21.8 C start temperature was right on the borderline of a forced onehour delayed start but with the mercury rising as the skiers lined up at Otway Nordic Centre there was no stopping the race for the 448 entrants and it
started at 10 a.m. sharp.
The overnight cold that dipped to -26 C crystalized the snow at Otway and that made for tough slogging for most of the skiers and Davies said that the toughest segment for her.
“I didn’t have the technique on some things and that really cost me, I honestly don’t have the experience to know if it was good snow or bad snow, it felt OK for me,” she said. “My lungs at the beginning were pretty reactive to that
cold air, so a lot coughing but once I got through the ski it was fine. At the start of the 5K I did (get leg cramps) so I was trying to ease that back and manage it.”
Davies volunteered for the race last year and got turned on to the Iceman vibe and it was obviously a wise decision for her to enter an event that’s like no other in Canada.
“It’s amazing, watching it last year I was so jealous of everyone competing and I was like, I’ve got to (participate) this year,” she said. “I looked at the results from last year and I knew my runs would be competitive but I wasn’t sure what to make of the ski and the skate and didn’t want to put a lot of pressure on because I didn’t want to blow up too early.”
Other solo category winners were: Masters men – Stephen Duck (2:35:05); male grandmasters – Matt Janzen, 2:23:06; female masters – Julianne Kucheran, 2:40:3; female grandmasters –Shelley Martland, 2:54:16.
The race drew 20 solo women and 24 solo men.
Snow Mercy (Noah Gladdish, Bryce Gladdish, Josh Van der Meer, Graeme Moore and Johnny Enemark) set a blistering pace while winning the adult male team relay in 1:53:01.
The fastest women’s relay team was Cold Cleats (Anna Thorsteinson, Boroka Peter, Fia Cameron, Anna deWynter and Kjera Heyman, and they finished in 2:14:11.
In the mixed team relay, Bluer Balls (team member names not available) was the quickest of all the adult teams, clocking 1:49:56.
The junior team winners were as follows: Junior female – Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice (Madilyn Melanson, Skye Cadell, Edie Becker, Madilyn Bauman, Bubba Manning, Bella Manning) 1:45:24.
Junior male: Durpee Slurpees (Gavin Hall, Alistair Bell, Keagan Molendyk, Willem Grose, Owen Leavens, Scott Moore) 1:40:53.
Junior mixed: IceBreakers (Kavita Dhillon, Kohl Hooper, Andre Roberge, Brendan Elwert, Mike Hara, Isabel Simoes) 1:40:59.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Juliette Davies celebrates at the Prince George Aquatic Centre after winning the Icewoman title as the fastest solo woman in Sunday’s Prince George Iceman.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Prince George Iceman swim station volunteer Ben Fandrick questions James Sader about his missing timing chip bracelet.
Cougars’ Dan Hamhuis joining BC Hockey Hall of Fame
He played 1,008 regular-season and 46 playoff games over 14 NHL seasons with Vancouver, Dallas and Nashville, scoring 62 goals and 315 points
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Defenceman Dan Hamhuis and forward Shawn Horcoff crossed paths many times throughout their lengthy NHL careers but they weren’t always opponents.
It happened in the spring of 2009 when they played together on Team Canada in Switzerland for the 2009 IIHF World Hockey Championship and won the silver medal.
They’ll have a chance to relive their memories of that tournament this summer in Penticton as featured guests at the BC Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Hamhuis, 42, played 1,148 regular season games and 68 playoff games in a stellar 15-season NHL career as a defenceman with the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars.
The native of Smithers, who played four seasons with the Prince George Cougars and is now in his 11th season as a part owner of the WHL team, retired from the NHL in 2020 after totalling 62 goals and 315 points.
“I got a call from Jim Hughson a couple weeks ago informing me that I’d be inducted this year and it’s kind of neat to look at the Hall of Fame and see all the names that are in there and it’s pretty cool to be in there with those guys,” said Hamhuis, from his home in Smithers.
“It’ll be good to see Shawn Horcoff, he and I played together in the world championships at one point. The world championship experiences are always pretty cool because once you get to know the guys you always have a connection with them throughout
your career even though you’re always playing against them and I look forward to seeing him.”
Hamhuis represented Canada seven times.
He helped the world junior team win bronze in 2000 and silver in 2001 and at world championships won two gold (2007 and 2015) and two silver (2008 and 2009).
He also helped win Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014.
In 14 NHL seasons as a centre with the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks, Horcoff played 1,008 regular season games and 46 playoffs, totalling 197 goals and 531 points.
Horcoff, 46, was born in Trail and raised in Castlegar.
Their run for gold at the 2009 world championships fell short with a 2-1 loss to Russia in the final in Bern, playing for a Canadian team that also included former Cougars goalie Chris Mason and defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski.
The July 12 ceremony will also induct longtime Vancouver Canucks scout Mike Penny, Larry Kwong of Vernon, the first NHL player of Asian descent, and hockey development pioneer Ted Hargreaves, who introduced skills training instruction films for coaches in BC.
Inducted in the team category will be the 1987 Richmond Sockeyes, who won the Centennial Cup junior A national championship, and the 1978 Kimberley Dynamiters, who claimed the senior-A Canadian title.
That Sockeyes team included retired Prince George firefighter Jim Gunn, who will be the subject of an upcoming Citizen feature story.
Located at South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, the BC Hall of Fame opened in 1994.
Eric Brewer, another former Cougars defenceman and also a current partowner of the team, was inducted in 2020.
Former Prince George resident Darcy Rota was in the 2003 induction class.
To learn more about the Hall of Fame, visit bchhof.com.
Pink jerseys for UNBC’s Shoot for the Cure
The UNBC Timberwolves women’s team will be wearing special pink uniforms for Shoot for the Cure Night on Friday. Both sides of the jersey feature names of parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and colleagues who have been affected by cancer, chosen by current and former UNBC women’s basketball players. Shoot for the Cure has raised more than $1.97 million in donations for the Canadian Cancer Society and other local and provincial charities to help fight breast cancer.
New goalie backstops Spruce Kings’ weekend sweep
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Winning hockey games has been a challenge all season for the Prince George Spruce Kings and their lack of success on the ice is the reason they’re stuck in ninth place in the BCHL’s Coastal Conference standings.
But there’s something brewing in the Spruce Kings’ camp that’s been missing since the season began in September and it showed in their play in a pair of weekend games at Kopar Memorial Arena.
They’re getting confidence that they can play with any team in the BC Hockey League and beat them.
Just like they did in sweeping a twogame series with the visiting Coquitlam Express.
It’s no coincidence the arrival of 20-year-old goalie Charles-Edward Gravel a week ago has put swagger in the skates of the Spruce Kings. Battle-tested in 4 1/2 seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gravel was a stabilizing force for a fragile team that’s gone through more than its share of goalies this season and Gravel played
a huge role in stopping the Express.
He made 32 saves to preserve a 3-2 win over Coquitlam on Saturday and was equally exquisite in his BCHL debut Friday when he turned aside 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime win.
“Everybody stepped up here, we know it’s crunch time, playoffs are coming up and we’re fighting for our spot and that was a great response, a great win,” said Kings 20-year-old captain Linden Makow. “We just need to carry this momentum we got here the past two games and keep it going.”
Kazumo Sasaki, the OT hero of Friday, scored two goals in the rematch, including the gamewinner, scoring his 15th of the season on a rebound. Swedish import defenceman Ludvig Basth made a superb play at the blueline under pressure to hold the zone and that sent Nick Metelkin in on goal with the original shot on Coquitlam goalie Logan Kennedy. Sasaki was there to drag the loose puck and tuck it in the open side 4:06 into the third period.
That gave the Kings the two-goal cushion they would need to hold their lead. Mason Kesselring scored the second Express goal with Kennedy on
the bench in the final minute, but that’s as close as it got.
“We’re fighting for our spot in the playoffs and that’s the only thing on our minds right now, said Kings 20-year-old centre Owen Goodbrand. “We know we can control our own destiny, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we’re going to go out and play like that every night. We know we have a good group in there. Teams don’t like coming up here playing us in our rink, the boards are hard and it’s cold and they just want to get on the bus and get home and we’ve taken advantage of that.
“It was good game by us and good game by Gravy (Gravel). He’s a real good goalie and he gives our team confidence knowing he’s back there and can play the puck like he does.”
The 20-year-old, a 4 1/2-year veteran of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was dialed in from the opening puck-drop and the native of Levis, Que., was the reason the Kings trailed by only a goal after the opening period.
The Spruce Kings (15-20-3-1) moved to within seven points of the eighthplace Langley Rivermen, who lost 6-5 in overtime Saturday in Nanaimo. There
were more than a few fans among the Kopar crowd of 1,009 who left the rink thinking the Kings will soon close that gap, especially after seeing how well the team is coalescing with Gravel in goal.
“He’s excellent, he’s calm and he’s a veteran guy and you can just tell the confidence our players have with him back there,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes.
“It really showed through this weekend and so obviously we’re thrilled to have him.”
The Spruce Kings hit the road this week for games Friday in Cowichan Valley and Saturday in Nanaimo.
“I’m just happy to be here, happy to be on the ice, this is a good group and I’m just ready to go in some games,” said Gravel, following a practice before the weekend’s games.
“I just tried to find the best fit for me just trying to touch the ice and win some games. I enjoy the game and I’m just trying to do my best every day and help the team win some games.”
Gravel is near the end of his junior career and has been recruited to Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania next season.
Special Olympics athletes roster set for Games in PG
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
With the Special Olympics BC Summer Games held in their hometown in July, Prince George athletes are already gearing up for the challenge.
There are 40 highly trained athletes competing in 10 sports during the July 10 to 13 event.
For the next six months local athletes will work hard to achieve peak results, knowing they will be representing Region 8 at the summer games.
Some are veteran athletes while others will compete at the provincial level for the very first time.
But for all of them, they know what it means to have the advantage of home court, bowling alley, track & field stadium, gym, pool, greens and grounds.
Here’s a list of the Prince George athletes competing during the BC Summer Games:
• 10-pin bowling: Carol West, Linda Renner, Emilie Snyders, Debbie Bileck, Cindy Komoski, Michael Harris, Greg Cole, Greg Eveneshen, KC Westerman, Sean Demers, Timothy Jolicoeur, Barbie Conway
In 2023 Adam Spokes lets it rip down the five-pin bowling alley at Black Diamond Lanes during practice with his team who competed in the Special Olympics BC Winter Games in Kamloops that year. Now Spokes is an athlete ambassador and a member of the basketball team training for the BC Special Olympics Summer Games held in Prince George from July 10 to 13.
Special Olympics’ competitive opportunities operate on a four-year cycle for both summer and winter sports. 2024 was a regional year for summer sports. Athletes that participated regularly and met the requirements in their summer sport programs had the opportunity to participate in a regional qualifier. The athletes that did well in last year’s regional qualifiers earned a spot on the training squad in their respective sport to compete in the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games.
Some of the athletes qualified in many sports and had to make the hard decision to pick just one in which to compete.
From the BC Summer Games athletes hope to advance to be part of Team BC and compete in the Special Olympics 2026 National Summer Games being held in Lethbridge, which is the ultimate qualifier for the global competition, the Special Olympics, held in Santiago, Chile in 2027.
New athlete ambassadors to represent Special Olympics
CITIZEN STAFF
The 2025 Special Olympics BC (SOBC) Summer Games Organizing Committee has announced the appointment of three athlete ambassadors from Special Olympics BC–Prince George: Chase Caron, Adam Spokes and Marinka VanHage.
These athletes will serve in a new, key role, contributing their leadership and perspectives to the planning and promotion of the upcoming Games, which will take place from July 10 to 12 in Prince George.
“These athlete ambassadors are not only accomplished athletes, but they also embody the spirit of inclusion and leadership that will define the 2025 Games,” said Renee McCloskey, who
co-chairs the committee with Lyn Hall. “Their unique experiences, both on and off the field, will help ensure the Games are welcoming and impactful for all participants.”
In Special Olympics BC’s Athlete Leadership programs, athletes with intellectual disabilities are trained to take on advocacy roles and contribute to leadership efforts in public speaking, committee participation, and more.
These new athlete ambassadors will work closely with the organizing committee to ensure that the voices and perspectives of athletes remain at the forefront of the planning process.
Caron, Spokes and VanHage are not only leaders in the Special Olympics community but also active
competitors. Each is preparing to compete in the 2025 Summer Games and has previously participated in both provincial and national Special Olympics events.
In addition to their leadership roles, the athlete ambassadors will engage with local communities to build awareness of the Games and Special Olympics BC’s year-round programs. Their efforts will help to highlight the ongoing programs in Prince George, which serve local athletes with intellectual disabilities.
These community outreach initiatives will run throughout the lead-up to the Games, helping to foster excitement and involvement in the event.
The 2025 SOBC Summer Games will bring together more than 1,200 athletes
with intellectual disabilities from across British Columbia and Yukon. Participants will compete in 11 sports, including basketball, bocce, softball, swimming, and track and field.
To make this life-changing event a reality, the organizing committee is seeking the support of approximately 1,000 volunteers and generous sponsors.
For more information on how to get involved, volunteer or become a sponsor, visit the official 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games website at sobcgames.ca.
Volunteer registration will open in spring 2025.
For more information on Special Olympics BC and its programs, visit www.specialolympics.bc.ca.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH
Blind Curling Team sweeps nationals in Nova Scotia
They’ll host the west championships here in March
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
A team of blind curlers from Prince George is the best in Canada.
The Prince George Blind Curling team beat every provincial team that was put up against them in the Feb. 3- 7 tournament in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The team beat Team Canada 12-7, Team Ontario 11-4, Team Saskatchewan 11-4, Team Alberta 12-0, Team New Brunswick 11-0, Team Manitoba 7-5 and Team Nova Scotia 7-3.
“The best moment of the tournament was when we got to hoist that trophy at the banquet on Friday,” said team lead Terry Pipkey.
Pipkey said he’s proud of the team and their accomplishments, this being their first Canada-wide championship win.
“It was quite an exciting thing to do to win a Canadian championship,” said Pipkey.
“None of us on the team had ever accomplished that kind of feat up until now. Now we have something to be proud of. Now that we are Canadian champions, we will get an automatic invite to next year’s Nationals. Hopefully, that’s going to be out west somewhere.”
In addition to Pipkey, the championship team included Leona Gervais, Russell Gervais, Eric Rosen, Fraser Hiltz and Victor Santos
Prince George Blind Curling team is also looking for new players for the next season.
“Especially in our local community, we’re looking for more players,” said Pipkey.
“Our skip is going to take a year off to go to New Zealand, which, wintertime here is summer down there, so we’re going to be short a skip. Our third, we’re not sure about him because he’s a professor at CNC and he doesn’t curl during the day. So Prince George Blind
curling is always open to people coming out and giving it a try.”
The Prince George Blind Curling team has been around since 2001 and in 2008 won its first Western Blind Curling Championships.
Since then the team has won have won five western blind Championships in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2024. as well as the 2023 BC Blind Curling Championship, which was held in Prince George.
As well they have qualified for the 2025 Western Blind Curling Championship which will also be held in Prince George.
The team for the last seven years has practised against local seniors at the Prince George Seniors Curling League.
The team itself is all at different stages of vision loss but has no difficulty playing against what they call “sightlings.”
“Curling, because there’s only one stone at a time being thrown, it’s quite safe for most of us,” said Pipkey.
“When we curled at home in the seniors league, none of us visually impaired folks have had any issues over several years, and yet some of the other seniors have fallen or got between two moving stones and had a broken ankle this winter. For us, it’s one of the sports that we can participate in with relative safety.”
Blind curling is one of the few sports that requires little adaptation for people with visual impairments. Each team has
a designated sighted sweeper, there are lights on brooms for those with light perception, and some teams have additional guides.
The upcoming Western Blind Curling Championships will be held March 19–22.
Pipkey noted that organizers are looking for community support.
“We’re always looking for a bit of funding help,” said Pipkey. “We still need much more. Because we have eight teams that are going to be in town, which includes our team, we’re trying to cover the cost of the breakfast and lunches for the three days.”
Anyone looking to help support the team can email Pipkey at tpipkey@ gmail.com
CAROLINE MARKEL PHOTO
Left to right sighted guide Leona Gervais, Russell Gervais, Terry Pipkey, Eric Rosen, Fraser HIltz and sighted guide Victor Santos of the Prince George Blind Curling Team take part in the Impaired Curling Championship in Sydney, N.S, on Feb. 4.
Life Events
In Loving Memory
Monika Helene Lapointe
October 3, 1949 to February 19, 2022
Your spirit will never die it shines like the stars I know you’re sleeping in heaven but you’re living in my heart.
Rest in peace my dear, Maurice
Donald “ Don“ Michael Pryzsieny
August 21, 1944 – January 26, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Michael Pryzsieny on January 26, 2025 at the age of 80.
Don is survived by his cherished partner of 38 years, Vicki Bryant, his son Derrick Przysieny (Sandy), stepdaughter Cindy Williams (Ben), stepson Paul Bryant(Cathy), his twin sister Diane (Keith) Munro, grandchildren; Kelly & Mitchell Williams, Katelyn & Abby Bryant, Mikey & Mila Przysieny, and great-granddaughter Blayke Mayhew.
Don will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His kindness, generosity, and sense of humor touched the lives of everyone around him. He was an avid card player who enjoyed many hours of cribbage with friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Black Clover Pub, 1165 5th Ave, Prince George BC
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Don’s memory to Spruce Capital Seniors Recreation Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Prince George BC
Teresa Carmela Manfredi
Febuary 9, 2015
Looking back ten years.
Looking back with memories. Upon the path you trod, we bless the hours we had with you, and leave the rest with God.
Love, Ines, Frank & Anthony
Irene Jean Carbert (nee Evanchuk)
February 21, 1949 - January 29, 2025.
Born in Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan she moved to Prince George in 1970 after living a couple of years in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.
Loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away with family by her side at Gateway Lodge, Prince George.
Survived by husband Lorne, daughter Trudy (Mike) Baker, son-in-law Don Riemer, grandchildren Ashley (Arlo), Brettany (Dane), Lexie and Ryan, great-grandchildren Jack, Walker, Rose, and Brooks, sisters Stella Beedle (Randy), Donna Nydeggar (Jim) and brother Louis Evanchuk (Kathy).
Pre-deceased by daughter Louise (Don) Riemer, Parents Harry and Alice Evanchuk, Brothers Bill (Eileen) Evanchuk, Steve Evanchuk.
She worked in healthcare as a nurse’s aide for 45 years (43 at UHNBC) and loved her job, and the people she worked with. She will be missed by all her family.
Special thank you to Gateway Lodge staff, Dr. Boutcher, and Dr. Turski for their exceptional care through the years. No service by request.
Irene Bernice Fisher (Jardine)
April 11, 1936 - February 8, 2025
Our family is saddened to announce the passing of Irene after a long battle with cancer. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-gramma. Irene was a long time Legion member and loved her dancing. She also was a school bus driver for many years.
Irene was predeceased by her son Garry. Survived by her children Ellen, Lyle (Donna), Dale (Judy), Lorna (Ken), seven grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and her best friend Buddy. There will be no service by request.
Irene will be greatly missed by many.
José Homem Silva
June 16, 1934 - February 3, 2025
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved father who left us after a courageous fight, always smiling and humming until the very end.
Joe was born on June 16th, 1934, in San Antonio, on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal.
Joe leaves behind a legacy of hard work, laughter, love and resilience. His spirit will live on in the memories of his family, friends, and all whose lives he touched.
A prayer service will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Tuesday, February 18th at 7pm. The Funeral service will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Wednesday, February 19th, at 10:00am followed by burial at the cemetery.
A lunch reception will be held back at the church following the burial.
Classifieds
Stephanie
*On Feb. 24, 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn a $200,000 settlement awarded to the Reverend Jerry Falwell for the emotional distress he suffered after being parodied in the pornographic magazine Hustler, deciding
• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Having second thoughts could be a good thing, even if you’re determined to go through with your plans. You might find it worthwhile to take a fresh look at how things have been set up.
that the satire, while in bad taste, was covered under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech.
* On Feb. 25, 1956, poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes met for the first time at a party. They married just four months later, but the union was rocked by Plath’s discovery of her husband’s adultery the same year their second child was born. After her suicide in 1963, Hughes edited several volumes of her poetry, one of which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982.
• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Financial matters could continue to be a problem until you’re able to straighten out some of the more pesky situations. Once this happens, the rest should be easier to unsnarl.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Family matters once again take center stage and should be dealt with competently and quickly. Again, insist that others take on their fair share of the responsibilities.
* On Feb. 26, 1974, Nike received a U.S. patent for its waffle trainer running shoes. The company’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman, invented the iconic soles by pouring polyurethane into a waffle iron at breakfast one morning.
* On Feb. 27, 1935, 6-year-old rising Hollywood star Shirley Temple took home the first-ever kid-size “juvenile” Oscar, measuring roughly half the height of a standard Oscar.
On Feb. 28, 2013, 85-year-old Pope
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your creative pursuits seem to be running into a roadblock. But rather than blame outside factors, look within to see if you might be holding back your efforts for some reason.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Keep your keen Cat’s Eye focused on relevant aspects of this new situation in your life. Don’t be distracted by trivial matters. You need the pertinent facts before making a decision.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) As much as you prefer doing things on your own, continue to accept help if you still need to resolve the problem that affects your project. Meanwhile, some cheerful news is about to come your way!
• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”
• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.
• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.
• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.
Benedict XVI officially resigned his position as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, citing his advanced age as the reason. He was the first pontiff to relinquish power in nearly six centuries.
* On March 2, 1807, the U.S. Congress passed an act to “prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States ... from any foreign kingdom, place or country.” It would go into effect at the start of 1808.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)
While you might begrudge the added time it will take to get your project from point A to B to C, etc., you could benefit from the facts that will emerge over this expanded time span.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)
Regarding your workplace suggestions, be prepared to produce the facts to counter reactions from skeptics who feel like your approach is unreasonable or even impossible.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Savvy Sagittarians will look for workrelated answers on their own rather than relying on unproved assumptions. It might take more time to do so, but the payoff is worth it.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your aspects continue to favor family issues, with a special emphasis this week on changes in and around your home. Get everyone to suggest what they would like to see done.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
A matter you thought had been settled still might produce surprises. Best advice: Continue to gather facts to bolster your position just in case you need to produce them quickly.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) While your instincts are usually right when discerning ‘twixt truth and deception, you could benefit from doing more research on the new “prospect” that you’ve been pitched.
Homes & Living
Is it a good idea to list your home in the northern winter
Listing your home for sale during the northern winter months can be a strategic move, but it comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. Here’s a detailed look at the pros and cons to help you decide if winter is the right time for you to put your home on the market.
Pros of Listing Your Home in Winter
Less Competition One of the biggest advantages of listing your home in winter is the reduced competition. Many sellers wait until spring or summer to list their homes, which means there are fewer properties on the market during the winter months. This can make your home stand out more to potential buyers.
Serious Buyers Buyers who are house hunting in the winter are often more serious and motivated. They may be facing a job relocation, a change in family circumstances, or other time-sensitive reasons that compel them to buy quickly. This can lead to faster sales and potentially better offers.
Showcase Winter Features If your home
dream door starts here
has features that are particularly appealing in winter, such as a cozy fireplace, efficient heating system, or excellent insulation, listing in winter allows you to showcase these attributes. Highlighting how well your home performs in colder weather can be a strong selling point.
Year-End Financial Incentives Some buyers are motivated by year-end financial incentives, such as tax benefits or end-ofyear bonuses. Listing your home in winter can attract these buyers who are looking to make a purchase before the year ends2.
Flexible Scheduling With fewer homes on the market, real estate agents may have more time to dedicate to selling your property. This can result in more personalized attention and potentially more effective marketing strategies.
Cons of Listing Your Home in Winter Weather Challenges Winter weather can pose significant challenges for home showings. Snow, ice, and cold temperatures can make it difficult for potential buyers to visit your property. Additionally, maintaining a
clean and accessible driveway and walkway can be more demanding.
Limited Curb Appeal The winter landscape can make it harder to showcase your home’s exterior. Gardens, lawns, and outdoor spaces may not look their best under a blanket of snow. This can affect the overall first impression of your home.
Shorter Days With shorter daylight hours, scheduling showings can be more challenging. Potential buyers may have limited time to view homes during daylight, which can impact the number of showings you receive.
Holiday Distractions The winter season includes several major holidays, which can be a distraction for both buyers and sellers. People may be less focused on house hunting and more preoccupied with holiday preparations and celebrations.
Perception of Urgency Some buyers may perceive a winter listing as a sign of urgency or distress, thinking that the seller is desperate to sell quickly. This perception can sometimes lead to lower offers or more
aggressive negotiations.
Ultimately, the decision to list your home in winter should be based on your specific circumstances, the condition of your home, and the local real estate market. Consulting with a real estate professional can provide valuable insights and help you make the best decision for your situation.
The pros and cons of pressure-treated wood foundations
Pressure-treated wood foundations, also known as Permanent Wood Foundations (PWFs), have been a topic of debate among builders and homeowners for decades. These foundations use pressure-treated wood to create below-grade walls that sit atop a granular or concrete base. While they offer several advantages, they also come with their own set of challenges. Let’s explore the pros and cons of pressuretreated wood foundations in detail.
Pros of Pressure-Treated Wood Foundations
Ease of Installation
One of the primary advantages of PWFs is their ease of installation. Unlike concrete foundations, which require specialized crews and equipment, wood foundations can be constructed by the same crew that builds the house’s framing. This can significantly reduce construction time and costs.
Suitability for Remote Locations PWFs are particularly well-suited for remote or hardto-reach building sites where transporting materials for a concrete foundation may be impractical. The lighter weight of wood makes it easier to transport and handle in such locations.
Construction Flexibility Wood foundations offer greater flexibility during construction. If changes to the floor plan are needed, it
is easier to modify a wooden foundation wall compared to a concrete one. This adaptability can be a significant advantage during the building process.
Year-Round Construction Unlike concrete, which can be challenging to pour in extreme weather conditions, wood foundations can be erected in any season. This allows for uninterrupted construction schedules, regardless of weather.
Environmental Benefits Using wood, a renewable resource, makes PWFs a more environmentally friendly option compared to concrete. Additionally, wood foundations provide better insulation, resulting in warmer basements and lower heating costs.
Cost-Effectiveness PWFs can be more costeffective than concrete foundations. They can potentially save homeowners $10,000 to $15,000 in construction costs, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious builders.
Cons of Pressure-Treated Wood Foundations
Susceptibility to Moisture Despite being pressure-treated, wood foundations are still more susceptible to moisture damage compared to concrete. Proper waterproofing and drainage are essential to prevent water infiltration, which can lead to rot and structural issues.
Insect Infestation Wood foundations can be vulnerable to insect infestations, particularly if the wood is not treated correctly. Termites and other wood-eating insects can cause significant damage if not properly managed.
Durability Concerns Over time, wood foundations may not be as durable as concrete. They can be more prone to damage from environmental factors such as heavy rain, snow, and soil pressure. Ensuring the wood is adequately treated and maintained is crucial for long-term durability.
Limited Acceptance PWFs are not as widely accepted or used as concrete foundations. This can make it challenging to find contractors with experience in building and maintaining wood foundations. Additionally, some building codes and regulations may have restrictions on using wood foundations.
Potential for Higher Maintenance Wood foundations may require more maintenance over time compared to concrete. Regular inspections and treatments are necessary to ensure the wood remains in good condition and free from moisture and insect damage3.
Perception and Resale Value The perception of wood foundations can impact the resale value of a home. Some buyers
may be hesitant to purchase a home with a wood foundation due to concerns about durability and maintenance. This can affect the marketability of the property.
Pressure-treated wood foundations offer several advantages, including ease of installation, suitability for remote locations, and environmental benefits. However, they also come with challenges such as susceptibility to moisture, insect infestations, and durability concerns.
Homeowners and builders must weigh these pros and cons carefully to determine if a PWF is the right choice for their specific needs and circumstances.
