Cougars, city sign six-year lease extension
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
If fans of the Prince George Cougars had any concerns they might be considering a move to another city, Thursday’s announcement that the WHL team has signed a new lease at CN Centre should alleviate those fears.
The Cougars have a new six-year arena lease agreement in place with the city retroactive to July 31, 2018 which provides the city revenue sharing based on the team’s ticket sales, suite rentals, and food and beverage concessions. The lease also ensures the city will receive $50,000 annually in arena advertising revenue the Cougars receive. The sliding scale on ticket sales gives the city more revenue when the team draws bigger crowds and less when there are fewer fans in the 6,000 seat arena.
“The more fans that attend Cougar games, the better the city does,” said Andy Beesley, the Cougars vice-president, business.
“They keep the food and beverage commissions and at the end of the day, the more fans there are the better it is for everybody. From the Cougars’ point of view, and I think I’m speaking on behalf of the city’s side, we both feel it is a genuinely fair and equitable partnership agreement. Every arena (around the WHL) is vastly different and we’ve crafted a Prince George solution we’re pretty proud of.”
Beesley predicts the new lease will work well for both parties, as it has in previous years, and it shows the team under its local ownership group, EDGEPRo Sports & Entertainment, has no intention of ever leaving Prince George.
“We’ve never wavered once, behind closed doors or out in public, we’ve never talked about moving, we’re all in it for the long haul, from our owners on down, we’re committed to Prince George and we don’t just talk about being committed, we’ve proven it,” said Beesley.
Since the new ownership group bought the team in May 2014, Beesley said the Cougars have donated more than $1 million to local charities through its Alumni Hospital Charity golf tournament and proceeds from 50/50 draws.
“It’s something that sets us apart from all the other teams, everything we do for charity purposes is for other people,” said Beesley.
“We’ve also given away over the last five years over $250,000 in merchandise and tickets and other stuff to help support people with their fundraisers and silent auc-
tion dinners.
“Looking at the last 25 seasons we’ve had over 2.5 million fans attend our games, it’s a tremendous legacy and history we’ve had, including watching players like (Zdeno) Chara, (Brett) Connolly, (Dustin) Byfuglien, (Dan) Hamhuis and (Eric) Brewer in our own back yard. There’s a lot the Cougars do to contribute to this community and it’s more than just if we’re winning and losing games.”
The team’s partnership with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation led to
the creation of the Spirit of Healthy Kids school program, which involves the players speaking to elementary school groups about making healthy lifestyle choices. That has reached 20,000 students in five years and this season, through video links, students throughout the Northern Health region will be able to participate, with each receiving a ticket for a Cougars game.
Mayor Lyn Hall was also on hand for the lease agreement announcement at CN Centre and he’s looking forward to witnessing firsthand the Cougars’ on-ice improvement,
Protest calls for protection of old-growth forests
Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff
mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
Armed with an 800-name petition, a rally in support of preserving B.C.’s old growth forests drew about two dozen people to the steps of MLA Shirley Bond’s office midday Thursday.
Organized by Conservation North, a local group, it was held as part of a province-wide day of action calling for stronger measures to protect the remaining unlogged swaths.
Describing them as “endangered landscapes deserving of our love, respect and care,” Conservation North director Michelle Connolly said once an old growth forest has been logged, it and the
diversity of plants and animals it holds, cannot be replaced.
“What’s more, we’re running out of old growth to log,” she said.
“A transition to logging second growth is inevitable, so why not start this transition while we still have something left?”
With the help of cardboard cutouts and chalk, children made outlines of moose and deer on the sidewalk. The group also unfurled a banner saying “Protect Our Old Growth.”
They also presented Bond with a letter holding a petition of more than 800 names calling for action.
Conservation North is seeking a list of measures including an Old Growth Forest Protection Act, an immediate
moratorium on logging Interior cedar stands and redesignating old growth management areas into reserves.
Connolly was particularly critical of the way old growth management areas work.
Although counted as part of the protected areas within the province, she said so-called OGMAs are a “wishywashy, lame form of protection that isn’t really protection.”
“Logging companies can move them, they can drive roads through them, they can log them and create a new old growth management area in an area that’s not even old growth,” Connolly said.
— see ‘WE’VE GOT, page 3
having missed the playoffs for a second straight season.
“This agreement provides the city with important revenue, it keeps the Cougars as our Number 1 tenant in a premier city facility, and it allows both organizations to benefit in the future, based on team improvements and increased attendance at CN Centre,” said Hall.
“On behalf of council, I’m very pleased to see the Cougars and the city working so well together, and as a fan, I can’t wait for next season to begin.”
Telus to extend fibre optic network to city households
Citizen staff
Telus is investing $150 million to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Prince George directly to its fibre optic network, the company said Thursday.
The work, which will include the north side of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation’s Fort George 2 reserve, will occur over the next three years and “enhance wireline and wireless connectivity,” according to the company.
It also means Telus representatives will be out knocking on doors seeking residents’ permission to connect their homes to the network. The work comes at no cost to homeowners, the company said.
Called PureFibre, the network is “gigabit-enabled” and offers equally-fast upload and download speeds “which provides significant benefits for applications like video conferencing, gaming, and home security.”
Telus CEO Darren Entwistle said it will give businesses the same internet speeds, functionality, reliability and security that large enterprises currently enjoy, “allowing residents to live and work in the city without compromising productivity or economic opportunity.”
The company said it will also lay the groundwork for 5G technologies, touted as the key step towards the so-called internet of things, a catchall term for such items as self-driving cars, advanced robotics, telemedicine and automated factories.
Telus spokeswoman Liz Sauve said the build will not use equipment supplied by Huawei. Critics have said using the China-based company’s technology risks exposing the country to cybersecurity attacks.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Prince George Cougars vice president Andy Beesley speaks during a media announcement that the City of Prince George and Cougars have renewed their rental agreement for six years.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
A group of people turned out for a rally in favour of the protection of old growth forests in front of MLA Shirley Bond’s office on Thursday, which was the Provincial Day of Action for Old Growth Forests.
Fundraiser being held for local skier
Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
A local athlete is looking to own the podium, but before he can even get to the start gate he has to raise some funds for those dreams.
On June 23 at the Columbus Community Centre, a dinner and auction will be held to get Gavin Rowell set for the upcoming season of training and racing.
Rowell is one of this country’s top contenders in ski cross, one of the most exciting of the downhill skiing set of sports.
His highlights from the past season included winning the Canadian/NorAm ski cross championship at Sunshine Village in April, after winning silver in the men’s FIS freestyle ski cross world junior championship held in March in Reiteralm, Austria.
“After a very successful past season, Gavin is looking forward to competing in races around the world,” said a statement from his local support team.
“From the small beginnings at Hart
Ultimately his goal will be the Olympics possibly in 2022 but he has to make it there which requires lots of races around the globe.
— Statement from Gavin Rowell’s support team
Ski Hill to the world podium, Gavin has worked to achieve results. Let’s join together and continue to show our support in making this season the best ever.”
Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12.
Dinner will include a delicious meal, coffee, tea, and dessert.
There will be a silent auction full of exciting items.
“He spent last year racing in USA and in Europe,” said his support team. “He
lives full time in Calgary to train at the Olympic Park. Ultimately his goal will be the Olympics possibly in 2022 but he has to make it there which requires lots of races around the globe.”
Anyone with a silent auction item to add to the evening, or cash donation, please email rowellaudrey@gmail. com or send a message on Facebook at the event page titled To The Start Gate Fundraiser.
Alpine Canada explained that Ski Cross is an “action-packed and adrenaline-fueled sport” that made its Olympic debut as a medal sport at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver-Whistler.
“Prior to the Olympics, ski cross had already established itself as a hugely popular TV sport thanks to events such as the X-Games,” said Alpine Canada.
“While ski cross is still young, Canada has a rich history of success in the sport. Since 2009, Canada has been viewed as one of the strongest ski cross nations in the world, racking up 137 World Cup medals, six World Championship medals, 15 X-Games medals and 3 Olympics medals.”
Alert bystander aids in capture of suspected criminal
Citizen staff
Prince George RCMP are giving an alert bystander credit for helping police track down a man now facing a handful of firearms charges.
Johnny James Boys, 26, remained in custody Thursday on counts of carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence, possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possessing a firearm for the purpose of transferring it and failing to report a found firearm.
Boys was arrested Tuesday night shortly after a driver of a suspicious pickup sped away when police tried to pull it over near Fifth Avenue and Tabor Boulevard. The driver ran a red light while heading east on Fifth and RCMP did not pursue due to safety concerns.
But moments later, a witness called RCMP to say a man was seen taking bikes and other items out of a pickup and stashing them in the wooded area of a local park on Gillett Street.
RCMP responded and arrested Boys. Police said he was found in possession of a stolen firearm while the pickup and other item were seized as part of the investigation.
RCMP said Boys has a history of police involvement in Terrace, Dease Lake and Prince George as well as in Alberta. In October, he was issued a one-year driving prohibition for driving while prohibited or licence suspended under the Motor Vehicle Act.
Open burning ban to be lifted
Citizen staff
A ban on small-scale open burning in the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will be lifted effective midday Friday, the B.C. Wildfire Service said.
However, caution is still urged.
“Although fire danger ratings have dropped in the region due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, people are strongly encouraged to exercise caution with any outdoor burning or campfire use,” officials said.
A ban on so-called category two open burning had been in place for the Prince George and Stuart Nechako forest districts since May 8 and was expanded to the entire jurisdiction on May 23.
Campfires were still allowed over that time.
Anyone planning a category three open burn –defined as a pile larger than two metres high by three metres wide or a grass burn larger than 0.2 hectares – must obtain a burn registration number ahead of time by calling 1-888-797-1717.
Local skier Gavin Rowell competes in the time trials at the Alpine Canada Nor-Am Cup mens Ski Cross at Tabor Mountain on Jan. 13, 2017.
‘We’ve got to do something’
— from page 1
On whether old growth hit by beetles should be logged, Connolly said they should be left untouched.
“When forests die from something natural like a spruce beetle or a defoliator like the looper, it often has the same value for wildlife, so those areas are worth protecting,” she said.
Connolly said the group will be working to determine how much old growth is left in the region.
During the rally, Judy Thomas, a professional forester, said there are 16 clear cuts over 10,000 hectares, two of them over 50,000, in the Prince George timber supply area. She linked the decline in moose population to a loss of habitat through logging.
“We’ve got to do something,” Thomas said. “The two are not unrelated.”
Bond was on hand to accept the letter and petition and said what the province’s land base should look like in the future is an important discussion. She also noted the work that was put into creating the Ancient Forest Provincial Park and that 15 per cent of B.C.’s land base is protected. Also known as Chun T’oh Whudujut (pronounced Chun Toe Wood-yu-jud) in the Lheidli T’enneh language, it covers 11,190 hectares and is home to an inland temperate rainforest made up of hemlock and western cedar trees as old as 1,000 years.
“It is a matter of trying to find that important balance between an industry that impacts our region significantly, people are losing their jobs as we speak,” Bond said.
“But people have strong and passionate views about this, and my jobs as an MLA is to listen to those views.”
The track is set for the Relay for Life that starts 10 a.m. Saturday at Exhibition Park. This is the only 24-hour Relay for Life in Canada and gives participants the opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors, honour loved ones, and fight back.
Don’t forget the horrors of intolerance, Horgan says
The Canadian Press
JUNO BEACH — British Columbia Premier John Horgan said as a modern, civilized society we need to remind ourselves and future generations that intolerance and extremism have a cost to liberty and freedom.
The premier attended ceremonies in France to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day and described the event on Juno beach as “powerful” and “very moving.”
Speaking from France in a conference call with reporters on Thursday, Horgan said D-Day is a reminder of the “fragility” of our system, the freedoms that we enjoy and that we must always be vigilant. He says if we don’t remember the horrors of intolerance and extremism we are doomed to repeat them.
Horgan joined thousands of Canadians on a stretch of beach on the coast of Normandy to commemorate one of the most pivotal days of the Second World War.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
PM worries China could target more Canadian goods
Andy BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s worried an ongoing diplomatic dispute could see China target imports of other Canadian agricultural products as concerns grow about soybean shipments in particular.
One industry leader said Thursday that, without a clear explanation, Canadian soybean exports to China plunged suddenly from 3.2 million tons over the final four months of 2018 to just 3,700 tons through the first four months of this year.
Relations between Canada and China have deteriorated since the December arrest in Vancouver of Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou at the behest of the United States.
China was outraged by Meng’s arrest and has since detained two Canadians on allegations of espionage and sentenced two other Canadians to death for drug-related convictions.
Chinese authorities have also blocked imports of Canadian canola seeds, alleging they found pests in shipments, and have increased inspections and paperwork related to pork.
“When it comes to China, obviously, our top concern is the release of Canadians who are detained in an arbitrary way by the Chinese for political reasons,” Trudeau said in French on Thursday during a visit to France, where he marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day. “We are also concerned by their
A farmer holds soybeans from the previous season’s crop at his farm. Soybean exports from Canada to China have dropped from 3.2 million tons in the last quarter of 2018 to only 3,700 tons in the first quarter of 2019.
actions on canola and the potential of other actions on other products.” Trudeau told reporters that he will see if it’s “appropriate or desirable” to have a conversation directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping about a number of bilateral difficulties later this month at the G20 summit in Japan.
Philippines lifts Canadian travel ban
OTTAWA — The Philippines is slowly normalizing diplomatic relations with Canada now that the trash tiff of 2019 has come to a close.
There is no word yet on a return to Canada of the Philippine ambassador or consuls general, who were withdrawn until Canada took back a big load of garbage that had been festering in Philippine ports.
But Philippines Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea – President Rodrigo Duterte’s right hand – issued a memo to department heads and government corporations June 4 saying a ban on travel to Canada and on interactions with Canadian
officials is over. “In view of the Canadian government’s retrieval and reshipment to Canada of the containers of garbage... please be informed that such directive is hereby lifted, effective immediately,” Medialdea wrote.
Dozens of containers full of garbage set sail May 30, nearly six years after they first arrived in the Philippines falsely labelled as plastics for recycling.
Canada contracted a French shipping company to carry out the task and the garbage is now headed across the Pacific Ocean to the port of Vancouver, where it’s expected to arrive around June 30.
Once in Canada the garbage is to be taken to a waste-to-energy facility in Burnaby and burned.
Later Thursday, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told a parliamentary committee that she’s heard concerns about shipments of Canadian soybeans to China. Ron Davidson, executive director of Soy Canada, said in an interview that China’s purchases of Canadian soybeans collapsed at the end of last year following a run of
very strong exports. “It’s not a slowdown – it’s a virtual halt,” said Davidson, whose members have reported the drop to Bibeau. “We can see what’s happening, but we aren’t certain why.”
He said it’s not unusual to see soybean exports decrease during winter months, but the speed, magnitude and timing of the crash this time around has alarmed the industry.
Davidson said he’s received reports of Canadian soybean containers held up in Chinese ports for longer than usual as authorities there conduct additional tests. It’s possible, he added, that the drop is partly due to an increased reliance by China on soybeans from other parts of the world.
Soybeans are Canada’s third-most valuable agricultural export after canola and wheat, he said.
Any prolonged crackdown by Canada’s second-biggest trading partner on shipments of key products like soybeans and canola could deliver a blow to the national economy.
New data released Thursday from Statistics Canada showed overall exports of canola fell 14.7 per cent in April after China started turning away Canadian canola seed.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s spokesman said it’s not enough for Trudeau to be concerned because he’s not a casual observer when it comes to the dispute with China.
“He needs to actually do something,” Brock Harrison wrote in an email Thursday.
Mexican envoy says USMCA deal to get quick approval despite U.S. tariff threat
Mike BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Mexico’s ambassador to Canada says his country will formally ratify the new North American trade deal within the next two weeks after having overcome its latest tariff drama with the United States by then.
Both houses of Mexico’s Congress have approved a new law on much-promised labour reform that was seen in all three countries as a prerequisite for moving forward with the deal. Now, only the upper chamber, the Senate, needs to approve the ratification of the new trade deal, and that will happen June 18 or 19, Ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho said in an interview Thursday.
The prediction aligns Mexico with Canada’s own legislative calendar. Canada’s House of Commons is set to break in the next two weeks, potentially closing Ottawa’s ratification window until after the October federal election. Gomez Camacho said Mexico’s Senate is sitting in an “extraordinary session” outside its regular schedule to finally put the bed the contentious trade issue that has hovered over the continent since President Donald Trump’s arrival in the White House.
“We need to close successfully the NAFTA chapter to bring back full certainty. All these negotiations that finally, happily concluded successfully naturally created uncertainty and question marks on the part of investors, and those that are part of this integrated value chain,” Gomez Camacho said.
“They had longer-term investment plans but they needed to see what was going to happen with NAFTA. We really need to close that and go back to full certainty.”
American and Mexican officials held a second day of talks Thursday in an attempt to avert a fresh round of tariffs Trump is threatening on Mexican goods.
Trump is promising a five-per-cent levy on all Mexican imports that would go into effect on Monday as part of an effort to force Mexico to stop the flow of Central American migrants to the southern border of the United States. The latest tariff tussle could derail the new the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Trump forced because he views the current NAFTA as one of the worst trade deals in his country’s history.
The new deal must be approved by the legislatures of all three countries for it to enter into force.
Gomez Camacho said he is confident Mexico and the U.S. will reach a deal by Monday’s deadline. He also refused to speculate on what Mexico would do if that doesn’t happen and if the U.S. imposes a new round of tariffs.
“We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters in Ireland before leaving for France to attend D-Day commemorations.
“But something pretty dramatic could happen. We’ve told Mexico the tariffs go on. And I mean it, too. And I’m very happy with it.”
Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada is moving forward with ratification despite the fresh tensions between Mexico and the U.S. He said Canada is moving “in parallel” with U.S. efforts.
“The Mexican government has indicated that the tariffs, or these threats of tariffs, by the American administration towards them will not interfere with their ratification process, and we will take them at their word,” Trudeau told reporters on France’s Normandy coast, where he was also attending the D-Day events Thursday.
Like Canada, Mexico tabled its ratification legislation last week after the U.S. removed its punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from their countries.
Both Gomez Camacho and Trudeau said separately that the recent lifting of those tariffs was the last barrier to moving forward with ratification.
Gomez Camacho said that like Canada and the U.S., Mexico considers the deal closed despite calls from some U.S. Democrats to strengthen its labour provisions.
Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard held meetings with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat in Congress, earlier this week and Washington and he emerged reassured that she and her fellow Democrats are satisfied with Mexico’s new labour commitment, said Gomez Camacho.
“The main issue from Democrats was our labour legislation. Our labour legislation has been replaced. It really meets NAFTA standards. It is a very important change in the labour practices in our country,” he said.
GOMEZ CAMACHO
Mia RABSON
The Canadian Press
Tanker ban survives Senate vote
OTTAWA — The Senate passed up a chance Thursday to kill the Trudeau government’s bill to ban oil tanker traffic in the environmentally sensitive waters off northern British Columbia.
Senators voted 53-38 to reject a committee report that recommended that Bill C-48 be scrapped; one senator abstained. But that’s not a guarantee the bill will survive.
A number of Independent senators are opposed to C-48 but nevertheless voted against the Conservative-written report of the Senate’s transportation and communications committee because they felt it was too partisan and inflammatory.
They also want a chance to propose amendments to the bill.
The report asserted that the bill will divide the country, inflame separatist sentiment in Alberta and stoke resentment of Indigenous Peoples.
It also maintained the bill is “politically motivated” and accused the Trudeau government of intentionally setting out to destroy the economy of Alberta, where the Liberals have little hope of winning seats in this fall’s federal election, in order to curry political favour in B.C. and other regions where the governing party is more competitive.
Had senators voted to accept the committee report, the bill would have been
killed immediately.
By rejecting the report, senators have ensured the bill will proceed to third reading in the Senate, during which amendments can be proposed. Some independent senators have signalled their support for changes that would, among other things, allow for a shipping corridor through the restricted area.
Others would like to change the permanent nature of the ban on oil tankers, allowing it to be lifted after a certain period of time or under certain circumstances.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said his government is deeply disappointed the Senate voted to reject the committee’s report.
“The committee members could find no compelling rationale for this bill, given that it only targets one product, Alberta bitumen, and does not restrict oil tanker shipments elsewhere on Canada’s coastlines,” Kenney said in a release late Thursday. “I urge the Senate to reconsider the negative impact this bill will have on national unity at debate on third reading. Should Bill C-48 be passed into law, Alberta will launch an immediate constitutional challenge.”
There has been a voluntary moratorium on tankers off B.C.’s northern coast since 1985.
If the Senate approves amendments to the bill, it would have to return to the
House of Commons where the government would decide whether to accept, reject or modify the changes. Senators would then have to decide whether to insist upon their changes or defer to the will of the elected parliamentary chamber.
Conservative senators, who have led the charge against C-48, contend there’s no point trying to amend the bill because Transport Minister Marc Garneau has already indicated he won’t accept changes. But Sen. Peter Harder, the government’s representative in the upper house, has pointed out that while Garneau has ruled out allowing a restricted shipping corridor, he has been more open to other potential changes.
Other senators have noted that Garneau has accepted amendments to other transport bills, even after initially saying he would not.
In a statement late Thursday, the Conservatives vowed to repeal the bill if they win this fall’s federal election.
“Despite stark warnings from workers, experts and premiers about the devastating impact this bill will have on the entire Canadian economy, the Liberals and their allies in the Senate are forging ahead with this disastrous legislation,” said the statement issued jointly by Conservative MPs Kelly Block and Shannon Stubbs, the party’s critics for transport and natural resources.
Quebec lawsuit seeks to force federal action on climate change
Stephanie MARIN The Canadian Press MONTREAL — Lawyers representing young Quebecers tried to convince a judge Thursday to authorize a class action lawsuit against the federal government for what they argue is a failure to combat climate change.
The class action brought by ENvironnement JEUnesse would be on behalf of Quebecers aged 35 and under, whom lawyers argue are being deprived of a right to a healthy environment and will suffer the effects of global warming more than older generations.
Going to court is the group’s way of forcing Ottawa’s hand to do more to knock itself from the top of the list of countries that emit the most greenhouse gases per capita.
Quebec Superior Court Justice Gary Morrison heard arguments Thursday from lawyers for the group as well as the federal government, which argued the courts were not the proper place for the protest.
For federal lawyers, allowing such an action to proceed would be an unjustified interference of the courts in the political sphere.
Climate change is a major challenge of this century and young people are well within their rights to emphasize an urgency to act – but the court isn’t the place to exercise this right, government lawyer Ginette Gobeil told the court.
And the government cannot be forced to introduce legislation or force Parliament to adopt them, she told Morrison.
The court filing, by a well-known Montreal law firm that specializes in class actions, alleges the Canadian government is violating the fundamental rights of an entire generation.
Notably, the lawyers say young people’s right to life and security is violated, as well as their right to equality.
The socio-economic costs of the federal government’s inertia on climate change will disproportionately afflict that generation, lawyer Bruce Johnston argued on behalf of the group.
The federal government is at fault, Johnston said, adding the behaviour is intentional: the government knows it has an obligation to act, knows what must be done, but does not do so.
“Without a healthy habitat, we have no future as a species,” Johnston said.
If the action is allowed to proceed, lawyers are seeking $100 from the federal government for each Quebecer in that age bracket – with a catch. Because doling out an award estimated at $340 million would be complicated and expensive, the action suggests the money be spent on measures to curb climate change.
Joan BRYDEN The Canadian Press
CP FILE PHOTO
An oil tanker is anchored in Burrard Inlet just outside of Burnaby on Nov. 25, 2016.
Canada a global cannabis leader
It was in London that I first realized what a major accomplishment we had made with regards to cannabis legalization in Canada, and that we are viewed favourably around the world for our accomplishments on the medical as well as, more recently, the recreational side. Paris was one of more than a dozen cities where I have visited and spoken at cannabis events in the past year. That list also includes London, Panama City, Sydney and even Bangkok.
The stories I hear from conferences I participate in around the world are fascinating.
When in Paris for the Cannabis Europa conference, I could not help but notice an 80-year-old lady during the industry day. I went up to her and asked, “What part of the industry are you in?” (Or interested in, given that cannabis is not legal for any purpose in France.)
She said, “I have used cannabis (albeit illegally) for the last 10 years to help me with my arthritis. I want to ensure that I do my part at making sure we legalize it in this country, as I have seen first-hand the benefits it has had for me in my situation. We love to see what Canada has done on this and applaud your government for this.”
Despite the usual suspects (politicians, industry enthusiasts, North American cannabis players, etc.) who attend these events, I can’t help but notice a similar reaction, and more importantly enthusiastic participation, from patients who come out to these conferences.
It is not surprising that we are seeing increasing acceptance of cannabis, at least for medical purposes, at a global level, in countries such as the U.K., Thailand, Korea, South Africa and the Philippines. Those countries are coming on board, and developing regulations and legislation for cannabis for medical purposes. Recently,
countries such as Luxembourg and Malta have said that they intend to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes.
Finally, there are three interesting developments to note on the international stage that relate to cannabis.
First, the World Health Organization recommended that member states of the United Nations look at rescheduling cannabis and provide further clarity on CBD (cannabidiol). If adopted, this would change the scheduling of cannabis on an international
YOUR LETTERS
Poor conditions at care home
“I will never go into a care home.”
Our mom said this often but she has now been in the Gateway Lodge in Prince George for over two years. Sometimes it can’t be avoided.
Mom is on the third floor of Gateway and has a nice room. The lodge itself is nice. However we all know it is the people that work there that make a care home happy and comfortable. Many of the Gateway staff are hard working and very good with mom. We really do appreciate those staff members.
Having our mother put into care was a difficult decision for all of us and we have had to deal with the sadness, guilt and stress of having her there. On top of this we deal with constant issues, moms call button often doesn’t work, her room is very hot in the summer, ensuring her medications are on time, her adaptive clothing put on properly and the ongoing issue of weekly baths. Although one bath a week is not acceptable, it is often cancelled due to staff shortages. We have
been told that because mom’s bath day is Friday that workers often call in sick, especially when the weather is nice. There is no one to cover these shifts so the residents go without a bath or their hair washed. No bath for up to 10 days is wrong. We have been dealing with these issues for most of mom’s time in Gateway and we are finding it extremely frustrating. It is often made worse by the inability to speak with someone in charge or to have them return our calls. We have followed all the steps, spoken to management and contacted Northern Health. Things seem to improve for a while but soon fall back into the same patterns.
Our elderly deserve respect and to be cared for, made comfortable and happy as possible during this time in their lives. They have paid taxes and worked hard most of their lives. Why are our governments not addressing these issues?
We are a large family and our mom has a lot of us to advocate for her. We are concerned for those residents who have no one to speak for them. We don’t have much faith in the residential care system at this point and it terrifies us to think that one day it may be one of us in a care home. The
system needs to be improved!
Debra Moulton, Prince George
Save gas, quit idling
Even as the complaints via the B.C. news media persist over “sky-high” gasoline prices, I still see daily the usual large number of parked vehicles idling for multiple minutes. Particularly noteworthy were the exhaust spewing vanity vehicles, a couple with the signature superfluously very large body and wheels that don’t at all appear used for work or family transport. (They’re the same gratuitously tall monsters that when parked roadside hazardously block the view of short-car operators turning or crossing through stop-signed intersections; and they look as though they might get about 25 gallons to the mile.)
Inside were their operators staring down into their laps, probably their smartphones. I couldn’t help wondering whether they’re some of the people posting carbon-tax complaints onto various social media platforms?
Frank Sterle Jr. White Rock, B.C.
level and have implications on the UN conventions of 1961 and 1971, which have scheduled cannabis very stringently.
Second, the European Parliament recently passed a resolution calling for the European Commission, and EU member states within it, to come up with a uniform definition of medical cannabis.
Finally, the U.S. recently approved its farm bill, which takes hemp, defined as cannabis bearing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) below 0.3 per cent, out of the Controlled Substances Act.
This includes extracts from hemp, including CBD. It now puts CBD into the hands of regulations made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
These are developments I will be watching closely, in addition to watching every new country that comes on board in support of a medical cannabis policy and regulatory framework.
The dominoes, as they say, are falling quickly, as it relates to the cannabis file, and I must admit even I am having a hard time keeping track of the constant developments on the international stage.
— Deepak Anand is CEO of Materia Ventures and an expert in cannabis policy, regulations and strategy. You can find him on Twitter @_deepakanand
Rules more restrictive for cannabis than for tobacco
Marketing and branding cannabis and its derivatives in Canada presents significant challenges. The federal government built the marketing restrictions in the federal Cannabis Act on the restrictions developed for the tobacco industry.
These restrictions are among the most severe in Canada on marketing and branding in a legal industry. The success of the cannabis industry requires a reasonable loosening of this approach to permit effective competition with the illegal market.
The government’s approach to tobacco identified three types of promotional activity:
• Informational promotion.
• Brand-preference promotion.
• Lifestyle promotion.
Government outright banned lifestyle promotion and permitted the other two types in limited circumstances. The Supreme Court of Canada considered these tobacco marketing restrictions in two free-speech-related Charter of Rights cases: in 1995 and in 2007.
The court approved legislative restrictions on advertising to youth that still permitted advertising in places where youths would be present. The court held it was constitutional to restrict advertising tobacco to youth on the basis that advertising would be permitted if it targeted adults and was not designed to be particularly appealing to young persons, as distinguished from the general population.
Unfortunately, the Cannabis Act has not adopted this constitutionally approved structure and instead has prohibited all three types of promotion in places where young persons are permitted by law. Of course, that is virtually every location in our society.
The other big marketing issue in the Cannabis Act is the prohibition on any meaningful labelling – permitting only the use of plain packaging, and a single, very small, brand element, with the majority of label space being occupied by government warnings. Given that labels are affixed to products that can be displayed only in locations where youths are not permitted by law, it is difficult to understand why virtually all
branding activities on a label are prohibited.
How will these severe restrictions on marketing and branding play out in the future?
First, one of the stated purposes of the Cannabis Act is to “provide for the licit production of cannabis to reduce illicit activities in relation to cannabis.”
This alone distinguishes cannabis from tobacco.
Second, cannabis has known, court-recognized medical benefits. This also distinguishes it from tobacco. Third, illicit cannabis sells for less, and it is not governed by the same marketing restrictions. Given this context, arguably, it is not sustainable for the federal government to maintain such severe restrictions if it wants to effect its stated purpose of reducing illicit activities in relation to cannabis.
There are two ways to solve this problem.
First, businesses can use industry associations (ideally one, rather than many) to lobby the government to change the laws based on evidence collected during the early days of legalization. For instance, the failure of cannabis to raise anywhere near its projected revenue demonstrates that the existing structures are not working.
The second approach is for a cannabis business or industry association to bring a Charter of Rights challenge to the Cannabis Act advertising and marketing restrictions, on the basis that they infringe the Section 2(b) right to freedom of expression.
No matter what happens in the future, what is clear is that successfully navigating the regulation of cannabis advertising and marketing activities is both challenging and essential for the success of any business focused on consumer-facing products.
Shea Coulson is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP in Vancouver. His law practice focuses on the commercial and regulatory environment of the Canadian cannabis industry.
LETTERS WELCOME: The Prince George Citizen welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Submissions should be sent by email to: letters@pgcitizen.ca. No attachments, please. They can also be faxed to 250-960-2766, or mailed to 201-1777 Third Ave., Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7. Maximum length is 750 words and writers are limited to one submission every week. We will edit letters only to ensure clarity, good taste, for legal reasons, and occasionally for length. Although we will not include your address and telephone number in the paper, we need both for verification purposes. Unsigned or handwritten letters will not be published. The Prince George Citizen is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact Neil Godbout (ngodbout@pgcitizen.ca or 250-960-2759). If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.
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CANNABIS
GUEST
COLUMN SHEA COULSON
Ceremonies mark 75th anniversary of D-Day
The Canadian Press
Canadians were urged to heed the eternal lessons of the Second World War as ceremonies commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day were held Thursday in cities across the country.
Veterans and dignitaries including Gov. Gen. Julie Payette attended a ceremony in Halifax marking the June 6, 1944 Allied invasion of France that turned the tide of the war.
Payette began her day on the sands of Juno Beach, and she told the audience in Halifax it was impossible to imagine the horror that unfolded 75 years earlier when the small parcel of land became “hell on Earth.”
She thanked the veterans present and stressed the importance of remembering their sacrifice.
“We need to remember, but one, perhaps, of the most important lessons that we get from this is a lesson of hope,” Payette said. “The reason, at the end, was to provide a free world, opportunities for all to live a free life, and that is a message of hope.”
Havelyn Chiasson, 98, who landed with the first wave of troops on
Juno Beach as a 23-year-old with the North Shore New Brunswick Regiment, was among the seven aging veterans introduced in Halifax, each of whom held a rose. The roses were placed alongside a pair of black combat boots symbolizing Canadian soldiers’ journey to the battlefield and the comrades left behind.
The program had called for the veterans to hand the roses to a cadet, but those who could were determined to walk over to place the flowers themselves, accompanying the gesture with a salute.
Historian Don Julien, executive director of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, highlighted the contribution of Indigenous soldiers to the war effort. He told the story of Pte. Charles Doucette, a Mi’kmaq man who was captured after landing on June 6, 1944.
He and 19 other Canadians were executed at the Abbaye d’Ardenne on orders from a Panzer Division captain, Julien recounted.
In an early morning ceremony at the cenotaph in front of Toronto’s Old City Hall attended by veterans, dignitaries and members of the public, Mayor John Tory honoured the 14,000 Canadians who stormed Juno Beach in Normandy.
“Their courage and their determination led to some successes in those early morning hours but that success came at a huge price,” said Tory, noting that 359 Canadian soldiers lost their lives on D-Day.
Other Canadians were also marking the anniversary, with the veterans who are the last living link to the largest seaborne invasion in history as venerated guests of honour.
Capt. Martin Maxwell. 95, of the Glider Pilot Regiment, British 6th Airborne Division, shared his story in Toronto about being among the first to land in Normandy the night before the invasion.
“My D-Day started on June 5. Our commanding officer... came in and said, ‘Boys, we’ve trained for this for a long time. You’re the first ones in, so I have to tell you some of you will not be back,”’ said Maxwell. Maxwell urged Canadians to keep the lessons of the Second World War in their daily thoughts.
“When I look at the world and see mosques, synagogues, churches have been attacked and people murdered, I think back of what I saw... and they may say, ‘What the hell have you done with the tomorrows we gave you?”’
Raptors fan faces charges over vulgar comment
The Canadian Press TORONTO — A Raptors fan accused of making a vulgar comment about the wife of NBA star Stephen Curry on live television has now been charged. Police say 28-year-old Tristan Warkentin of Toronto turned himself in Thursday morning and faces a charge of mischief by interfering with the lawful operation of property.
Warkentin is accused of uttering what police call “profane phrases” in an interview with a TV reporter following Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the To-
ronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. Officers began their investigation on Monday, after a man being interviewed outside Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena referenced Ayesha Curry and shouted a sexual slur. Curry, who grew up in Markham, Ont., is an actress, celebrity cook, cookbook author and television personality. Her husband, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, had 23 points in Sunday’s win over the Raptors, followed by 47 in a Game 3 loss Wednesday night that saw Toronto take a 2-1 series lead.
Keith DOUCETTE, Colin PERKEL
CP PHOTO
D-Day veteran Art Eyres is emotional while saluting a memorial for soldiers who fell at the Battle of Normandy during a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-day in Halifax on Thursday.
Extradition hearing for Huawei executive set
The Associated Press
VANCOUVER — An extradition hearing will begin in January for a top executive of the Chinese tech company Huawei wanted by the U.S on fraud charges.
British Columbia’s Supreme Court on Thursday accepted a proposal by Meng Wanzhou’s defence team to start her hearing Jan. 20, more than a year after she was taken into custody at Vancouver’s airport. Defence lawyer David Martin said the schedule could allow the case to wrap up within two years, which he says would be a “record” for such a complicated case.
The daughter of Huawei’s founder wasn’t in court Thursday.
The United States has charged Meng with lying to banks about Huawei’s dealings with Iran in violation of U.S. trade sanctions. Both Meng and Huawei deny any wrongdoing.
Meng is free on bail in Vancouver and living in one of her two multimillion-dollar mansions.
Her arrest at the Vancouver airport set off a diplomatic furor that has led to the worst relations between Canada and China since the Tianan-
men Square massacre in 1989. China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entrepreneur Michael
Spavor on Dec. 10 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng. Kovrig and Spavor haven’t had access to a lawyer since being arrested.
A Chinese court also sentenced a Canadian to death in a sudden retrial on allegations of drug trafficking, overturning a 15-year prison term handed down earlier. China is also blocking imports of the agricultural product canola as well as other products.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he’s worried the ongoing diplomatic dispute could see China target imports of other Canadian agricultural products as concerns grow about soybean shipments in particular.
Ron Davidson, executive director of Soy Canada, said that China’s purchases of Canadian soybeans collapsed at the end of last year following a run of very strong exports.
“It’s not a slowdown – it’s a virtual halt,” Davidson said.
“We can see what’s happening.”
Are you part of something bigger?
We were going 64 in a 50 zone on our way to bury Larry when we got pulled over.
When the police officer asked the reason why we were going so fast we told him that we were on our way to Larry’s funeral. As he marched back to his car with my wife’s licence and insurance, I told my wife we would have to believe that Larry had some pull with the Big Guy if he could fix this one.
Larry was always part of something bigger. Running his organization, he often relied on “divine intervention” to ensure that he had enough customers, the right people arriving to fill the employment vacancies, and enough money to make payroll.
It’s not that Larry didn’t work hard, he did, but he didn’t sweat the small stuff. Great people would turn up to fill his vacancies. The time he spent on marketing and sales ensured that his customers did come in droves. While his business acumen wasn’t his strongest asset, he always found a way to make ends meet, with a few dollars left over that he inevitably gave away to “someone who needed it more than he did.”
You probably know a leader like
BUSINESS COACH
Larry. They are fun to be around because it’s not all about them.
They are generous with their resources, but they are accountable and keep their employees accountable for getting the results they have promised to deliver. They have a clear vision of what they should be doing and know how to get their team excited to be part of something bigger.
But what does it really mean to be part of something bigger?
Sometimes we are so caught up in the struggles of our enterprises, that we don’t realize the impact we are having on the lives of other people, the environment and even the world. In my position as a business coach I often have the opportunity, as an outsider, to observe the impacts that leaders are unknowingly making.
For example, I have seen an owner who in providing a job to an employee was giving her the responsibility to make decisions.
While applauding her on those decisions, he has built confidence in an apparently fragile young
lady which is life-changing for her. This could positively affect her and her family for generations.
The owner of a retail business who dedicates years of passionate and caring service to her customers enables them to trust her implicitly as a friend and confidante. It is difficult for us to comprehend that many people are lonely and only wish that we could spend time listening to them.
I know the leader of an ecology company who is passionate about only working on projects that are going to make the world a better place. While some people might view this type of aspiration as foolhardy, desires like this can change the world by attracting like-minded people to share in these altruistic ventures.
But it’s not only the big things that make a difference. It’s the small things that really count, for example: when you took the time to learn something important from a staff member; the one time you went over and beyond for a customer; the time you thanked your supplier for making a difference for you; when you recognized the contribution of one of your team who thought no one had noticed their accomplishment.
It could be the little smile for a doorman, delivery driver, or
student that made their day or the tip you gave a driver. Perhaps it was the honest staff review when you suggested that your employee might be happier doing something else. You may have shared an idea, offered a challenging question, or complimented on work well done.
As leaders we might not believe there is something bigger, but often, we don’t understand how we impact the lives of others. Larry believed that he was just a small cog in the wheel helping out the Big Guy and as a result made a difference in many lives.
That policeman who stopped us on the way to Larry’s funeral was part of something bigger. A few minutes after pulling us over, the officer came back to the window with the paperwork filled out giving my wife a written warning and verbal notice that he wouldn’t be so easy next time if she didn’t slow down. We did slow down but we came to the conclusion that Larry might have had a word with his friend, the Big Guy.
Dave Fuller, MBA, is an awardwinning professional business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Be part of something bigger and give Dave a suggestion for his column next week. Email dave@profityourselfhealthy.com
tainty.
The Toronto exchange opened higher in morning trading but pared the gains and underperformed U.S. market which rose more strongly on positive trade signals, says Candice Bangsund, portfolio manager for Fiera Capital.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 15.14 points at 16,227.80 after hitting an intraday high of 16,241.58. The July crude contract was up 91 cents US at US$52.59 per barrel on hopes that OPEC and its allies will extend their production curbs beyond June, she said. The July natural gas contract was down 5.4 cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU. Barrick Gold Corp. was up 3.2 per cent.
The August gold contract was up US$9.10 at US$1,342.70 an ounce and the July copper contract was up 2.75 cents at US$2.65 a pound.
The Canadian dollar traded at an average of 74.75 cents In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 181.09 points at 25,720.66. The S&P 500 index was up 17.34 points at 2,843.49, while the Nasdaq composite was up
DAVE FULLER
CP FILE PHOTO
Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is out on bail, has an extradition hearing set for January.
Sports
Blackwater track ready for pro motocross
Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MX tour returns Saturday
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
Rain this week has certainly put the damper of outdoor activities in and around the city but it’s just what the doctor ordered for organizers of this weekend’s Rockstar Energy Triple Crown motocross at Blackwater Motocross Park.
Prince George is the only B.C. stop on the nationally-televised pro national MX tour this year and some of the world’s top riders, including hometown favourite Jess Pettis, a 250cc pro rider, will be vying for the podium Saturday.
There’s been enough rain to keep the dust down and that’s made it much easier for track volunteers who haven’t needed to get out the hoses to soak the dirt. Unless a significant downpour happens over the next couple days the riders should avoid the mud bog which plagued the Prince George race the past two year and race conditions should be close to ideal.
“The track is shaping up very nicely for a good weekend of racing,” said Troy Wilson, vice-president of the host Prince George Motocross Association (PGMA).
“For the last couple years we’ve put all that sand down and the track actually needs a lot more water because the sand absorbs it all. With a few showers, the track is going to turn out really good.”
Qualifying in the 250cc, 450cc, women’s pro and pre-mix pro-am 125cc class starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and the flag drops on the first race at noon. Only the top 40 riders in qualifying in each class get to race. The races will be shown live on Fox Sports, the first time ever the eyes of the world will be watching Blackwater in a live telecast.
“That’s why they’ve moved to Saturday because Sunday is NASCAR and football and it’s a pretty big deal for our sport, we’ve never been on live TV before,” said said Kourtney Lloyd, national co-ordinator for the Prince George race and a PGMA director.
“Our sport has never gotten
the attention it deserves, it’s not a stick-and-ball sport and it just shows where the sport is going.”
The design of Blackwater makes it one of the most spectatorfriendly motocross tracks in North America.
The viewing area is set on a berm overlooking the track, with its steep hills and wide-open terrain which offers unobstructed views of most of the course.
“People are excited to come here because this track is the only one like it in the country with the elevation and being able the entire track we’re pretty spoiled,” said Lloyd.
“We have riders who ride all over Canada and the U.S. and they
say this is their favourite track and that’s pretty special to us as a board of directors.
“There’s not many events that come town and impact the city so much. The Pomeroy Hotel is our sponsor hotel for this event and it’s booked solid. To bring about 1,000 people to our town has a big impact on our community – it’s the hotels, the restaurants, it’s everything. We’re extremely lucky.”
Lloyd advises racing fans to get there early. The track is a located off Blackwater Road, 23 kilometres south of Highway 16, about a halfhour drive from downtown. Parking for as many as 1,000 vehicles is available at the Clear Lake sawmill
site and shuttle buses will be used to bring spectators on a 10-minute ride to and from the track.
The Prince George race in 2018 drew more than 3,000 spectators who were forced to park up a logging road and depend on side-byside quads to shuttle them to the track, resulting in long wait times.
The Clear Lake lot and buses used last year alleviated the congestion.
The Rockstar Energy series began last weekend in Calgary, where Pettis finished fifth in the first moto and seventh in the second, after gaining the hole shot in each race.
Other stops on the MX tour are in Minnedosa, Man., June 18;
Courtland, Ont., July 13; Ottawa, July 20; Moncton, N.B., July 27; Deschambault, Que., Aug. 13; and Walton, Ont., Aug. 17. On Sunday, a full day of racing is planned for the Future West B.C. amateur event with riders expected from all over the province. Those races will count for points in the 12-stop series and that will attract a large field of riders. Admission prices for Blackwater this weekend are as follows: Saturday only – $35 adults, $20 kids; Sunday only – $20 adults, $10 kids; Both days – $50 adults, $30 kids. Campsites are available for $20 night (make sure to bring the bug spray).
Terry Wilson soccer tournament at Rotary today
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff
tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
After nine years on the youth soccer scene, the Terry Wilson Memorial Cup remains one of the sporting highlights of the year for kids who attend Catholic elementary schools.
The one-day tournament on Friday at Rotary Soccer Field will pay tribute to Wilson and his efforts to promote youth soccer and education following his arrival in Prince George from Northern Ireland in 1986.
Eighteen teams of mixed-gender Grade 6 and 7 students from 10 schools, including three Prince George schools – Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s, Immaculate Conception – will gather on the field Friday.
“It’s all about the community and the support the community provides,” said tournament organizer Terry Murphy.
“We have made great connections over the years with many people.
“For example our referees, our sponsors, the media, the Citizen, PGYSA, City of Prince George, our teams have stayed consistent.”
Each seven-player team is guaranteed six games of 10 minutes each, with the top teams advancing to the playoff round.
Games will start at 8:30 a.m. and the tournament will wrap up by 3:30 p.m.
The St. Ann’s Academy Crusaders, the 2018 champions from Kamloops, won’t be back to defend the title due to a scheduling conflict but Murphy says they have assured him they will be back for the 10th annual tournament next year.
“We really want to emphasize that this is all about team participation and having fun, because that’s what Terry would have wanted,” added Murphy.
“His family back in Northern Ireland and in Canada is delighted and honoured about this tournament.”
The inaugural tournament was held in 2011, a year after Wilson died of brain cancer on June 19, 2010 at age 47.
Wilson was known as an innovative rep team coach during the time he coached his sons in the Prince George Youth Soccer Association and he went to achieve his national B-level coaching certification.
He worked as the phys-ed teacher at St. Mary’s school, a job he held from 1986-91, then served as the principal at St. Anne’s school in Quesnel and at Sacred Heart school in Prince George until 2002, when he and his family moved to Picture Butte, Alta.
Spruce Capital meet returns to Masich Place Stadium
Ted CLARKE Citizen staff
tclarke@pgcitizen.ca
Masich Place Stadium will be a hub of running, jumping and throwing activity this weekend.
For the first time in three years, since the stadium was closed for renovations, the Prince George Track and Field Club (PGTFC) is hosting its annual Spruce Capital meet Saturday and Sunday. Ninety athletes have signed up for the meet, down considerably from the 260 who attended the North Central zone high school meet in May.
‘It’s our longest meet but we don’t have as many entrants as we’d like, it’s hard to get everybody back into it,” said PGTFC head coach Elena Thomas.
“We haven’t had this meet for three years so it’s a little tough.”
Club athletes are using this meet as a tune-up for bigger meets on the BC Athletics calendar like the Jack Brow International in Kelowna, June 28-30; the B.C. Athletics Jamboree in Kamloops, July 5-7; and the B.C. Junior Development championships in South Surrey, July 19-21. The junior development meet is a qualifier for the Canadian Legion Youth Track
and Field Championships in Sydney, N.S., Aug. 9-11. For PGTFC senior athletes Max Schonewille and Jordan Bax, both graduating Grade 12 students, this will be their last hometown meet.
“Unless they come back in the summers as adult athletes, this is their last meet at the track, which is kind of too bad, they just got back into the track,” said Thomas.
“I’m sure they’re excited about participating.”
Among the 90 entrants is a group of unattached athletes from Bella Coola, on the central coast west of Williams Lake, a village which lacks a track
Jess Pettis of Prince George will be one of the riders to beat Saturday in the 250 cc pro class when the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MX series returns to Prince George at Blackwater Motocross Park.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Immaculate Conception School’s Jai Singh, left, and Saint Mary’s School Cole Sumners jockey for the ball in their game during the eighth annual Terry Wilson Memorial Cup held last year. This year’s event goes today.
Binnington, Blues beat Bruins 2-1, lead Cup final 3-2
Jimmy GOLEN
The Associated Press
BOSTON — Jordan Binnington stopped 38 shots, and Ryan O’Reilly and David Perron scored for St. Louis on Thursday night to give the Blues a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins and a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. The Blues have won two straight since a 7-2 loss at home and return to St. Louis with a chance to clinch the first NHL championship in franchise history. Game 6 is Sunday night and the Blues are riding a redhot goalie of late.
“Unbelievable. He won one for us,” defenseman Colton Parayko said of Binnington.
Tuukka Rask stopped 19 shots and Jake DeBrusk scored for Boston. The Bruins were lifted by the return of captain Zdeno Chara, who left Game 4 dripping blood after taking a deflected puck off his face. He wore a full-face shield on his helmet, but was unable to provide more than an emotional boost.
Chara followed Rask onto the ice for the pregame skate, and he got a lengthy cheer for his introduction.
The Bruins played a video of his highlights during an early whistle, and he went out of the way to deliver the game’s first hit, just 15 seconds in, on Brayden Schenn. When things went bad later, the crowd tried to spur the team on with chants of “Chara!”
But the 42-year-old defenseman’s toughness could only carry so far.
O’Reilly scored in the opening minute of the second period, backhanding in a rebound for his third goal in his last five periods. It was still 1-0 midway through the third when the referees disregarded a leg
sweep by Tyler Bozak that knocked Noel Acciari out of the game.
Perron followed with a shot that banked off Rask’s pad and into the net. The fans responded with a vulgar chant and a shower of rally towels; the public address announcer eventually asked them to stop.
Boston did seem inspired – or at least desperate – and cut the deficit to one goal on a delayed penalty
with about 6 1/2 minutes left.
Torey Krug took a high stick to the face at the blue line but he played on, straightened his helmet and dished the puck to DeBrusk for a one-timer past Binnington.
Boston pulled Rask with a little more than a minute left and earned several chances, but couldn’t get the puck past Binnington.
Notes: Binnington’s nine playoff
road wins is the most by a rookie in NHL history. Ron Hextall won eight in 1987... Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr, the connection that gave the Bruins the game-winning goal against the Blues in the 1970 clincher, were the pregame banner wavers... Actors Michael J. Fox, Woody Harrelson and John Krasinski were in the crowd... Blues
D Vince Dunn was in the lineup
after missing almost three weeks after taking a puck to the face...
Boston D Matt Grzelcyk missed his third straight game... The Blues improved to 9-3 on the road in the playoffs.
Up next The series returns to St. Louis, where the teams split Games 3 and 4. The Blues are 6-6 at home so far in the postseason.
Djokovic has tennis history within grasp at the French Open
The Associated Press
PARIS — Sure, Novak Djokovic wants to win each match he plays. And, yes, he wants to come through at key moments, such as when he got broken early in his French Open quarterfinal and was in danger of dropping a set for the first time in the tournament.
What matters most to Djokovic, though, is the big picture. And so he’s excited to be two victories away from doing something only one other man, Rod Laver, ever has in tennis: holding all four major titles at once on two separate occasions.
“The longer I play or the further I go, I guess, in my career, the sense of history-making is only getting stronger. That’s one of the greatest motivations I have, obviously,” Djokovic said after a methodical 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 dismantling of Alexander Zverev on Thursday. Djokovic already won four straight majors in 2015-16. And since his shocking loss to unheralded Italian player Marco Cecchinato in the quarterfinals last year at Roland Garros, Djokovic has compiled a 26-0 record at the
Grand Slams, winning Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, and the Australian Open along the way.
“There is no better way to make history of the sport than to win Slams and play your best in the biggest events,” Djokovic said.
“Those are the pinnacle achieve-
(5),
ments that you can have in our sport.” Due to Wednesday’s washout, Djokovic will be back on the court without a day’s rest for Friday’s semifinals against Dominic Thiem. Thiem, last year’s runner-up, rolled past 10th-seeded Karen
Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal (3), both Colombia, 7-5, 6-4. Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies, both Germany, def. Guido Pella and Diego Schwartzman, both Argentina, 7-5, 6-3. WOMEN Singles - Quarterfinals Amanda Anisimova, United States, def. Simona Halep (3), Romania, 6-2, 6-4. Ashleigh Barty (8), Australia, def. Madison Keys (14), United States, 6-3, 7-5. Doubles - Quarterfinals Elise Mertens, Belgium, and Aryna Sabalenka (6), Belarus, def. Lyudmyla Kichenok, Ukraine, and Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, 7-5, 6-2. MIXED DOUBLES Semifinals Ivan Dodig, Croatia, and Latisha Chan, Chinese Taipei, def. Bruno Soares, Brazil, and Nicole Melichar (1), United States, 6-2, 6-1. Gabriela Dabrowski, Ottawa, and Mate Pavic (2), Croatia, def. Aisam Qureshi, Pakistan, and Nadiia Kichenok, Ukraine, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 10-8. JUNIORS Boy’s Singles- Third Round Taha Baadi, Laval, Que., def. Keisuke Saitoh, Japan, 7-6, 6-2. Girl’s Singles - Third Round Leylah Annie Fernandez (1), Montreal, def. Sohyun Park (15), Republic of Korea, 6-2, 6-0. Quarterfinals Leylah Annie Fernandez (1), Montreal, def. Elsa Jacquemot, France, 6-0, 6-0.
Khachanov 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 . In the other semifinal, 11-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal renews his rivalry with Roger Federer.
It’s the first time since 2011 that all top four seeds have reached the semifinals in Paris.
Even if Djokovic raises another trophy come Sunday, however, Laver will remain the only man to have won all four Grand Slams in the same calendar year twice, in 1962 and 1969.
Yet even Laver is awed by what Djokovic is accomplishing.
“I marvel at someone like Novak with his ability and his consistency,” Laver said.
“When you look at the way he plays the game, he doesn’t go bang, bang, bang, ace, volleys. He wins every individual point from the baseline.”
With so much physical exertion, there was a moment against Zverev when Djokovic appeared out of breath after sending a backhand wide to give the fifth-seeded German a break and a chance to serve out the opening set.
But Djokovic found his second wind, started pushing Zverev back and forth to the corners like a windshield wiper, broke right back and reeled off five straight games to take the set and a 3-0 lead in the second.
“(I) really thought that the first set should have gone my way,” Zverev said.
“Once he’s in control, he’s very tough to beat. He’s world No. 1 for a reason.”
Andrew DAMPF
AP PHOTO BY MICHEL EULER
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic plays a shot against Germany’s Alexander Zverev during their quarterfinal match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Thursday.
AP PHOTO BY MICHAEL DWYER
Boston Bruins’ David Krejci, left, checks St. Louis Blues’ Zach Sanford off his skates during Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final on Thursday in Boston.
Singer proud despite flak over anthem at NBA final
Lauren KRUGEL
The Canadian Press
A Saskatchewan-born country singer says she has no regrets about putting her own spin on O Canada before Game 3 of the NBA finals.
Tenille Arts says she heard from a lot of people who loved her rendition of the national anthem on Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif., where the Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors to take a 2-1 lead in the championship basketball series.
But the 25-year-old, who is originally from Weyburn, admits there were also negative online comments about some flourishes she added to the melody.
“The main goal as a Canadian is to sing the anthem with pride and that’s what I wanted to do,” Arts said in an interview Thursday as she was about to catch a flight home to Nashville, Tenn.
Several people on Twitter have accused Arts of “butchering” the anthem by veering away from its familiar tune.
But many others tweeted praise, including Canadian country star Brett Kissel who wrote: “Stop throwing shade. @TenilleArts did a GREAT version of our anthem... Period.”
Arts, who has performed O
Canada at several smaller sports venues, is making no apologies for singing the anthem her way.
“A lot of people really loved it,” she said.
“I think that the people that didn’t like it just didn’t like the change and that’s fine. But that’s the way that I sing it.”
Arts said she found out a week ago that she would be singing at the NBA game. She was nervous
and excited on stage.
Her performance was followed by members of the metal band Metallica, who performed an instrumental version of the American anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.
“It was amazing, definitely an unforgettable experience,” Arts said.
Colleen Weimer, a retired music teacher and choir director at Wey-
Dr. John, funky New Orleans musician, dies
NEW ORLEANS — The family of the Louisiana-born musician known as Dr. John says the celebrated singer and piano player who blended black and white musical influence with a hoodooinfused stage persona and gravelly bayou drawl, has died. He was 77. A family statement released by his publicist says Dr. John, who was born Mac Rebennack, died early Thursday of a heart attack. His spooky Gris Gris Gumbo Ya
Ladies fund raising garden party Wednesday
Citizen staff
The Sons of Norway Ladies Garden Party will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at 4300 Montgomery Cres. The event includes afternoon tea, door prizes and bake sale in a beautiful garden setting. There is a $5 entry fee. All proceeds from the garden party are donated to local charities. For more information call Edna at 250-963-7741 or Wencke at 250-963-5660.
Son of country singer dies
NASHVILLE — Country singer Granger Smith says that his youngest son, River Kelly Smith, has died after an undisclosed accident.
In a statement put out Thursday through his label, Smith said that after doctors were unable to revive the three-year-old, the family decided to donate his organs to other children.
Smith says that the family was heartbroken, but took solace that River was with God. The family asked that donations be made to Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.
Ya slithered onto the pop-dominated market in 1968, startling listeners with its sinister implications of other-worldly magic. In a career marked by drug addiction, he later had a Top 10 hit with Right Place, Wrong Time. He collaborated with numerous top-tier rockers, won multiple Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
AP FILE PHOTO Mac Rebennack, in his stage persona as Dr. John, performs during the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, R.I. in 2013.
burn Comprehensive School, said the southern Saskatchewan city is abuzz.
“There’s lots of hometown pride about Tenille.”
Weimer described Arts as hardworking and shy during her time in the choir. She recalled that Arts starred as Ado Annie in the musical Oklahoma! during her last year of high school.
Arts did a great job singing O Canada, Weimer said.
“She added her own personal touches to it and she made it the national anthem sang by Tenille Arts and that’s what you need to do.”
It isn’t the first time a performance of Canada’s national anthem has been divisive.
There was a harsh backlash to Victoria singer Nelly Furtado’s flute-accompanied version during the NBA all-star game in 2016, which also deviated from the traditional melody.
The same year at the Major League Baseball all-star game, a member of The Tenors created a furor when he incorporated the phrase “all lives matter” into O Canada, causing his ouster from the group. Many saw the alteration as an insult to the anti-racism Black Lives Matter movement.
The Tenors, minus the rogue member, opened Game 1 of the NBA finals last week singing O Canada without incident.
In 1994, Dennis Casey Park’s performance of O Canada at a Canadian Football League game in Las Vegas sounded more like O Christmas Tree.
The vice president of communications for the CFL described being flooded with faxes and phone calls in a Baltimore Sun article at the time. Then-prime minister Jean Chretien also got an apology from the Las Vegas Posse team owner.
AP PHOTO BY TONY AVELAR
Tenille Arts performed the national anthem of Canada before Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday.
Kevin MCGILL
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
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