PM Carney sends Canadians to the polls after a week on the job
CITIZEN STAFF
New Prime Minister Mark Carney has called an election for April 28, but as of The Citizen’s press time the Liberal Party of Canada doesn’t yet have candidates nominated in Prince George, according to its website.
Doherty and Prince George-Peace Riv er-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, both Conservatives, have confirmed to The Citizen re-election.
after Dick Harris retired while Zimmer succeeded the retiring Jay Hill in the 2011 election.
THURSDAY, March 27, 2025
Prince George-area federal election ballots take shape
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE 1
The Liberals’ list of nominated candidates does not show anyone for Cariboo-Prince George or Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies. The party’s riding association chairs for those ridings did not respond to emails requesting comment sent before the election call.
The NDP list Angie Bonazzo, a mental health support worker at Northern Health’s adult withdrawal management unit in Prince George, as their candidate for Cariboo-Prince George.
The party’s website does not show any candidates listed in the other Prince George riding.
In Cariboo-Prince George, former Williams Lake city council candidate Jodie Capling is flying the Green banner while current School District 27 trustee Mary Forbes is running for the party in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies.
The website for the People’s Party of Canada says that David Watson, the postmaster for Bear Lake, is running in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies and Rudy Sans, whose bio says he’s a public servant in the judicial branch of the provincial government, is running in Cariboo-Prince George.
Keep an eye on The Citizen for full interviews with candidates in Prince George ridings.
NEWS NOTES
Mayor, councillors approve increase to expense budgets
Prince George city council passed the first three readings of a bylaw amendment that will increase mayor and councillors’ expense budgets at its Monday meeting.
During budget deliberations back in January, Coun. Cori Ramsay successfully amended the budget to reduce council’s funding for economic
In the 2021 election, Doherty was re-elected to a third term with 50.8 per cent of the vote.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) with Audrey McKinnon captured 20.4 per cent of the vote, up by five per cent.
The Liberal Party, represented by Garth Frizzell, earned only 16.6 per cent, a 3.4 per cent drop from 2019.
The People’s Party, with candidate Jeremy Gustafson, reached 8.2 per cent of the vote, up by six per cent.
Meanwhile, the Green Party’s Leigh Hunsinger-Chang drew 3.6 per cent.
Voter turnout in the riding was down, with only 59.8 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots, a 5.7 per cent decrease from previous elections.
Zimmer was re-elected to a fourth term in 2021 with 60.7 per cent of the vote, a decrease of 9.1 per cent from the previous election.
The New Democratic Party (NDP), represented by Cory Grizz Longley, saw a significant increase, earning 13.5 per cent of the vote, up 4.3 per cent from 2019.
The People’s Party, represented by Ryan Dyck, made a notable gain, securing 10.4 per cent of the vote, up by 7.2 per cent.
The Liberal candidate, Amir Alavi, received 8.6 per cent, a drop of three per cent from the last election. Meanwhile, the Green Party and other minor
development advocacy by $20,000 and redirecting those funds to their expense accounts.
That change will add $2,000 to each councillor’s individual expense account for a total of $10,000 each and an additional $4,000 to the mayor’s expense account.
Director of finance and IT services
Kris Dalio said that because the expense limits are set by council’s remuneration bylaw, he can’t authorize additional expenses until it is amended.
parties garnered smaller shares.
The 2021 turnout in the riding saw a decrease, with just 62.1 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots, a decline of 7.7 per cent compared to 2019.
The election comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada’s sovereignty and pursues a trade war by levying steep tariffs on Canadian goods.
Carney, who became prime minister on March 14 after being elected Liberal leader to replace Justin Trudeau, started his campaign with a promise for a one-point cut to the middle class tax rate and said an election is necessary to have a strong response to American economic threats.
As he is not an MP, Carney will seek election in the Ottawa riding of Nepean, which shares a boundary with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's Carleton riding.
Poilievre was first out of the gates Sunday, holding a news conference in Gatineau, Que. across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill, before Carney's visit to Rideau Hall had begun.
Poilievre said he plans to "restore Canada's promise" and tackle affordability issues that he blames on elites.
"Our nation is more divided than ever before, because the Liberal, radical, post-national, borderless and globalist ideology has weakened our nation,"
The three readings of the bylaw amendment passed unanimously.
New date set for April city council meeting
Prince George city council has moved its second April meeting five days earlier to avoid a conflict with the upcoming federal election.
Council was originally scheduled to meet on Monday, April 28 but since its 2025 meeting schedule was established, Prime Minister Mark Carney called for a federal election that same day.
Poilievre said.
"Now, desperate for a fourth term, Liberals have replaced Justin Trudeau with his economic adviser and hand-picked successor, Mark Carney."
Poilievre said he will bring down the cost of living and fix the immigration system while having a strong military.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh opened his campaign from a downtown Ottawa hotel, reiterating his party's success in convincing the Liberals to enact national dental care and pharmacare programs.
He said the other two parties aren't the best to manage "Donald Trump's illegal trade war" because they support the rich.
"The people who earn their living by showing up to work, who dream of owning a home, raising a family, and retiring with a modest pension — they're being abandoned," he said.
Recent polls have suggested the Liberals and Conservatives are in a neck-and-neck race and the comfortable polling lead the Conservatives enjoyed for more than a year has all but evaporated.
The NDP, which a few months ago was tied with the Liberals in many surveys, has watched its support plummet.
With files from The Canadian Press
The meeting has now been moved to Wednesday, April 23 at 6 p.m.
City manager Walter Babicz said a meeting is needed for one of the last two weeks of April to pass the bylaw establishing the 2025 financial plan.
He also said that with the previous meeting on April 7 and the next on May 5, cancelling the meeting would mean almost a month between meetings and would likely lead to a very heavy schedule on the latter date.
Only Coun. Kyle Sampson opposed the date change.
Capling Forbes
Doherty Zimmer
It’s Rocky Mountain Rangers week in Prince George
CITIZEN STAFF
A flag was raised over City Hall Monday to mark the start of Rocky Mountain Rangers Week in Prince George.
Mayor Simon Yu was joined by Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird to raise the flag.
Also on hand were Dan McLaren, founding president of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regimental Association, city manager Walter Babicz, councillors Susan Scott and Trudy Klassen and members of the Rangers.
The Rangers are a BC-based Canadian Army primary reserve infantry regiment that recruits in Northern BC and the Interior. The Rangers are headquartered in Kamloops and have a rifle company in Prince George.
During a presentation to Prince George city council at its evening meeting later that day, commanding officer Lt.-Col. Torry White connected via Zoom to provide an update on the regiment’s activities with McLaren and Harvey Smerchynski also representing the rangers in person.
White explained that primary reservists, like those serving with the Rocky
manager Walter Babicz and members of the Rocky Mountain Rangers hold up the Rocky Mountain Rangers Flag Monday in front of City Hall after proclaiming March 24 to April 2 as Rocky Mountain Rangers Week.
Mountain Rangers, receive the same training at the same facilities as regular soldiers. Soldiers from the regiment have served in conflicts like wars in Afghanistan and Bosnia, he said.
Typically, White said, members are asked to train one night a week with occasional weekend exercises.
Over the course of 2025, White said, the regiment will be participating in exercises in Chilliwack, Williams Lake,
Valemount and Yakima, Wash.
On March 29, the rangers are hosting an open house at the Meadows Armoury at 687 Dornbierer Cres. to teach people about what serving is like and provide information about how people can sign up.
The commanding officer also advocated for local businesses to hire current and former reservists, citing their experience and training as benefits
in the workplace.
After the presentation, Yu said he hoped that Canada would fulfill its military spending commitments as a part of NATO after the federal election.
In response to a question from Coun. Cori Ramsay, who said she was a former sea cadet, White said the regiment has strong relationships with local cadet groups.
With files from Colin Slark
Nurses union asks council for help with patient ratios
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
A representative from the BC Nurses Union asked for Prince George city council’s help in improving nurse-topatient ratios at the Monday, March 24 council meeting.
Union lobby co-ordinator Raelene Stevenson said that other jurisdictions like California and Australia where minimum ratios have established minimum ratios.
In Australia, 7,000 inactive nurses returned to work after minimum ratios were established and there was a 60 per cent increase in nurse registrations in California, Stevenson said.
She also cited other stats showing increase quality of care and fewer injuries to nurses because of minimums.
While BC has put ratios in place,
Stevenson said the province needs to retain and recruit more nurses to make them a reality.
Part of that is addressing physical violence and exposure to illicit substances that nurses face to improve their working conditions, she said.
In the last collective agreement between the union and the provincial government, Stevenson said, there was a memorandum of understanding aimed at recruiting more Indigenous nurses but more work along these lines are needed.
Local governments like the City of Prince George, she said, can help this situation by working on housing, childcare, transportation and recreation opportunities that make their communities desirable and affordable places for nurses to live.
She also said local governments can also help by asking the provincial and federal governments to establish their own policies that help achieve these goals. While BC has recruitment incentive program for nurses, Stevenson said Prince George is not a part of it despite staffing vacancies in places like the emergency room at the University Hospital of Northern BC.
Coun. Brian Skakun said it would be better for BC to recruit and retain local nurses rather than recruit from other jurisdictions.
Skakun also said he believes Prince George needs to be exempted from legislation regulating short-term rentals so that nurses have somewhere to stay when they travel to Prince George for work.
This is important in part, Skakun said,
to make sure the new tower at UHNBC can be staffed when it opens in a few years.
He said he believed this subject would be brought up on the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations’ upcoming advocacy trip to Victoria.
Coun. Cori Ramsay asked how many nurses would be needed to achieve the union’s desired ratios. Stevenson said it would be in the neighbourhood of 3,000 to 5,000, which she acknowledged was a big ask.
Coun. Kyle Sampson asked if Stevenson could talk about her requests in more detail with the committee and city staff so they can be armed with knowledge when they visit Victoria.
Sampson put forward a successful motion to refer the topic to the committee for discussion.
Mayor Simon Yu, Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird, councillors Susan Scott and Trudy Klassen, founding president of the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regimental Association Dan McLaren, city
Insurance firm wants to take over Cowboy Ranch
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The owners of a former cowboy-themed bar building on Queensway are one step closer to turning the property into an insurance office after receiving a development variance permit at the Monday city council meeting.
The owners of the former Cowboy Ranch at 2595 Queensway want the variance so they can change the land use to “service, financial” and increase the maximum gross leasable floor area from 280 square metres to 493 square metres.
“The applicant is proposing to redevelop the existing vacant building to facilitate an insurance office at the former Cowboy Ranch Cookhouse,” staff’s report said. “The footprint of the existing building is not proposed to change.”
Included with the agenda is a letter from Brett Nicholson, managing director of Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services currently located at 3685 Massey Dr.
“As we were looking to expand our company, we came to realize that the
CN Centre naming rights renewed until 2030
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Prince George city council approved the renewal of the naming rights agreement for the CN Centre until 2030 at its meeting on Monday.
The current agreement for the CN Centre expires on March 31, 2025. CN Rail has held the naming rights for the venue, formerly known as the Prince George Multiplex, since 2005.
According to a report from city staff, the most recent agreement with CN included an option for the company to renew the contract for another five years under the same terms, except for the licensing fee and renewal option.
This clause was invoked in 2005 when the arena hosted the “Battle of the Hockey Enforcers” event.
In the original agreement, CN also paid $300,000 plus GST to occupy private suite No. 1 in the arena, payable in annual installments of $20,000.
During the meeting, Coun. Cori Ramsay said she had recently represented council at a CN-themed night during a Cougars game, where CN representatives spoke positively about their relationship with the city and the negotiations led by Andy Beesley, director of civic facilities and events.
She also congratulated city staff on successfully negotiating the increased fee in the renewed agreement.
existing office space we occupied would no longer meet our requirements,” Nicholson wrote.
“As we set out to look for a new space, we expanded our search from lease buildings to purchase buildings. During our search, we were fortunate enough to locate the property at 2595 Queensway which was vacant, for sale and the renovation demolition of the existing pub interior had already begun.”
Nicholson goes on to explains that when they purchased the building, the company was unaware that the zoning limited the leasable space to one tenant with a floor space of 280 square metres.
He argues that the business would have lessened impact to the neighbourhood than the previous tenant, as most of their work is done over the phone or through the internet.
At one point, the letter says, the building was being renovated to house a denturist’s office.
Accompanying the application are four letters of support, though three of the letters have the same content but are from different representatives of the same business.
At the meeting, council approved the permit unanimously.
“This clause is part of the current council-approved agreement; however, administration is of the view that we require council approval for the renewal licence fee,” the report stated.
For the proposed new five-year term from 2025 to 2030, staff have negotiated a rate of $100,000 per year for a total of $500,000. This represents a 33.33 per cent increase from the last five years, which paid out a total of $375,000.
The original 15-year agreement, from 2005 to 2020, paid the city a total of $1 million, with $100,000 per year from 2005 to 2010 and $50,000 per year from 2010 to 2020.
Under the terms of the agreement, which are largely the same as the original 2005 document, CN has the right to rename the facility if the company changes its name.
The city retains the right to rename portions of the facility, provided the name is not that of a competitor within the freight sector.
The city also agreed in the original document to send emails to CN periodically to inform the company of events at the venue.
If any events fall under certain conditions set by CN, such as those involving violence or pornography, the company has the right to publicly disassociate itself from them.
Coun. Tim Bennett asked whether the city budgets for the removal of branding if a naming rights agreement is not renewed.
Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio said it depends on the agreement; in some cases, branding removal costs are covered by the sponsor.
Beesley explained that the original agreement was front-loaded to allow the city to cover costs such as updating business cards.
He noted that CN had gone above and beyond in covering many of the rebranding costs at the facility itself.
Coun. Kyle Sampson suggested that with the facility’s 30th anniversary coming up later this year, along with the 20th anniversary of CN branding, it might be a good opportunity for the city and the company to collaborate on a large community event.
Mayor Simon Yu joked that CN could help bring Elton John back for a concert, referencing the artist’s previous 2010 show. Coun. Ron Polillo chimed in, remarking that John recently retired.
Coun. Susan Scott inquired whether CN might be interested in sponsoring the Little Prince miniature train at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Ramsay said there had been discussions about this during the naming rights negotiations.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
City council heard an application to turn the former Ranch building on Queensway into the offices of an insurance company.
The Bay’s closure sad, but not unexpected: Shoppers
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Prince George Hudson’s Bay location has had its fate sealed and will be among the hundreds of stores closing across the country.
Shoppers at the store Monday were not surprised by the recent closures and reacted with a mixture of sadness and frustration.
Former Prince George Minor Hockey Association coach Brian Toll was disappointed by the store’s closure.
“To me, it’s a long-standing tradition,” said Toll. “My wife shopped here a lot, and I have as well. So for it to be closing, it’s kind of a tough time. It’s tough for people not to have this place to come to. The other thing is, it seems to be a sign of the times. That’s kind of a shame too, especially for someone older like we are, to see all the shopping going online and things like that now. The social aspect of it is disappearing, with a lot of social activities moving online.”
Toll also added that he is disappointed by the lack of support from locals for the store.
“My wife and I have spoken about a lot of different stores in town, about the lack of people actually shopping
in them. It doesn’t come as a surprise because we never really saw many people shopping when we were here. We made the comment when we were coming in that it was hard to find a parking spot right now. Where were all these people before? Now it’s sale time, and everybody shows up. If people had shown up before, perhaps it wouldn’t be closing.”
The Hudson’s Bay Company entered bankruptcy protection earlier this year, and a recent announcement on March 24 confirmed that all but six Hudson’s Bay locations will be closing.
The closure affects 74 stores and about 9,000 employees.
Last week, an Ontario court gave its approval of the liquidation of the stores’ goods.
Like Toll, another shopper told The Citizen that online shopping is to blame for the closure of Hudson’s Bay and other local stores.
“Pretty much everyone is buying a lot of their stuff online now,” said Randy Sabo. “With Amazon and other online retailers, it’s pushing out all of the local ones. It’s making it so that having a space this size is just basically
unnecessary. It’s a waste of rent when you can have all this stock in a warehouse and ship it off ... All these department stores were the same. Sears closed here in town about a decade ago. Before that, there were Zellers and Target, which also left. A lot of these in-store retailers are just leaving. It’s just a way of life that’s dying.”
One shopper told The Citizen that when they first came to Canada, Hudson’s Bay was where they purchased their winter clothing, and the closure was saddening, especially since shoppers are now capitalizing on the sale.
“I don’t like the cheap stuff,” said Ashley (no last name given), who was upset that the closure would make finding quality clothing in the city even harder. “In some of the places in the mall, I find their quality isn’t quite there. That’s why I like to come here — they always carry good-quality stuff. Especially during Bay Days, you can get really good deals. It’s like an iconic thing. I like to feel things, I like to try things on, and we’re moving to a society where you purchase things online, and you don’t have that ability. Now you have to return it instead.”
Liquidation sales were set to begin Tuesday at the Prince George Hudson’s Bay location.
Parkwood Place losing Atmosphere outdoors store
CITIZEN STAFF
Parkwood Place will have another vacancy this spring.
As The Bay liquidates its stock in preparation for the Prince George department store, the shopping centre’s Atmosphere store is preparing to shut down, with its merchandise relocated to a related retailer.
Owner Canadian Tire Corp. is closing 17 Atmosphere stores described as “uncompetitive,” with stock from 14 of those stores being moved to another of the corporation’s chains, SportChek. Staff at the Prince George store confirmed to The Citizen Monday that the store’s stock will be transferred to the
Pine Centre SportChek between April 2 and June 30.
The change is part of a move toward “optimizing its SportChek portfolio, with new-concept stores and a revised go-to-market strategy for its Atmosphere business,” states a press release from Canadian Tire Corp.
This is the third business known to be leaving Parkwood Place this year, after The Bay and the China Cup restaurant. Prior to the news of The Bay’s closure, Northern Health announced that it was taking over the second floor of the store, as well as the ground-level China Cup.
The restaurant’s owner has told The Citizen there are plans to relocate.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
Sale signage is posted ahead of Tuesday’s liquidation sale at The Bay on Monday. The store, along with 74 others across Canada, is expected to close.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
The Atmosphere outdoors store at Parkwood Place is set to close along with the rest of the chain, which is owned by Canadian tire. Its stock will be folded into the Pinewood Centre SportChek store.
Regional district eyes HVAC replacement
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is investigating the possibility of hooking its building at 155 George St. up to the City of Prince George’s district energy system, among other options.
The board of directors passed a motion directing staff to prepare Class B estimates for a standalone replacement of the building’s air handling unit, connecting the HVAC system to the Downtown Renewable Energy System and electrifying the system, at its Thursday, March 21 meeting.
A Class B estimate is considered a substantive estimate, including preliminary designs of all major systems and subsystems involved.
A report given at the board’s February meeting said that the HVAC system suffered boiler failures in late 2022, reducing its capacity to 33 per cent.
At that meeting, the board decided to postpone a decision on the replacement of the HVAC system and asked staff to write a report on the estimated costs on just replacing the air handling units.
One boiler was replaced in 2023, bringing the capacity up to 50 per cent.
Further examination done afterwards showed that other integral parts of the system have worn out and are at risk for failure.
A report from consulting firm McCuaig & Associates Limited dated February 2024 said three HydroTherm boilers dating back to the opening of the building are in poor condition, only being used in cases of extreme cold because they operate at non-condensing temperatures and only being used in a backup capacity.
This report also said that a chiller pipe and insultation were damaged, the air handling unit is too big for the building’s needs and is at the end of its service life and the hot water tanks are at the end of their service life.
Another report from McCuaig & Associates from this February recommended that the regional district keep its high-temperature hydronic heating system, replace and downsize the air
New tax rates set in 2025 RDFFG budget
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
handling unit and powering the HVAC system by connecting it to Prince George’s Downtown Renewable Energy System or electrifying it.
Currently, the existing boilers are powered by natural gas.
The DRES uses wood waste from sawmills to heat water that is piped throughout downtown Prince George to buildings like city hall, the Conference & Civic Centre, Kopar Memorial Arena, Two Rivers Art Gallery, the Prince George Public Library’s Bob Harkins branch and more.
“This upgrade will result in significant emissions reduction and zero gas consumption (at the site),” the report said, adding that it also expects lower initial costs, the lowest maintenance costs and lower utility costs than the other heating methods analyzed.
Electrifying the system would result in the lowest amount of emissions but would represent significantly higher utility costs to the district.
The cost of refreshing the HVAC system was estimated by the report to be between $902,000 to $952,000, depending on how many of the existing boilers can be reused and the cost of hooking into the DRES was pegged around $765,000.
Just replacing the air handling unit was said at the March 20 meeting to have an estimated cost of around $260,000.
While discussing the options at that meeting, Director Dannielle Alan (Robson Valley-Canoe) said one of the district’s core mandates is to protect the value of its assets and reduce costs to taxpayers.
“I think it would be feasible to look at the air handling system by itself without
adding any further changes to the system,” Alan said. “Once we get that done, then we could move forward at a future date with an estimate for how we’re going to optimize the rest of the HVAC system.”
Director Brian Skakun (City of Prince George) said he worked with these type of systems for decades and from his experience, it’s more economical to do all the work at once so that everything doesn’t have to be pulled apart multiple times. He said he’d like administration to have the discretion to come back with a couple of cost estimates for different options.
Laura Zapotichny, the district’s general manager of environmental services, said all that’s budgeted for this year is for staff to receive the HVAC assessment and then order a Class B estimate on three options: optimizing the existing system, powering the system electrically or tying into the DRES.
While grant funding might be available, she said it would depend on which route the board decides to take.
Chief administrative officer Chris Calder said that it’s likely that fewer grant options would be available if the district decides to optimize its current system compared to choosing an option that would result in a significant reduction in greenhouse gases.
Director Cori Ramsay (City of Prince George) said she’d like full estimates, because the district would be faced with those costs if the system fails entirely.
Ultimately, the board passed a resolution directing the preparation of Class B estimates for the air handling unit’s standalone replacement, the electrification of the HVAC system and hooking up the HVAC system to the DRES.
The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George gave final approval to its 2025-29 financial plan at the board of directors’ Thursday, March 21 meeting, which includes a 7.2 per cent increase in the taxes the average Prince George homeowners pay to the district.
Directors debated the budget at committee of the whole meetings in January and February, then approved the bylaw establishing the 2025-29 financial plan in March.
This year’s budget has $70,029,346 in total spending.
Here’s the percentage and dollar amount change for the average assessed home within the different parts of the regional district:
• Prince George: 7.2 per cent increase ($13.35)
• Mackenzie: 2.3 per cent decrease ($1.88)
• McBride: 7.4 per cent increase ($43.29)
• Valemount: 1.7 per cent decrease ($9.20)
• Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes): two per cent increase ($7.66)
• Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako): 1.3 per cent increase ($6.25)
• Electoral Area D (Tabor LakeStone Creek): 0.8 per cent decrease ($3.50)
• Electoral Area E (Woodpecker-Hixon): 1.7 per cent increase ($3.68)
• Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley): 6.1 per cent increase ($11.23)
• Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip): 0.7 per cent decrease ($1.20)
• Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe): 2.4 per cent decrease ($7.27)
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
Director Susan Scott (left) listens as Director Dannielle Alan (Robson-Valley-Canoe) asks a question during a meeting of the Regional District of Fraser FortGeorge in the district’s offices in Prince George on Jan. 25.
Prince George airport included in class-action lawsuit
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A retired Nova Scotia pilot’s proposed class action lawsuit against airport improvement fees will remain in the air after Prince George Airport Authority Inc. (PGAA) and two other BC airports failed to ground the case.
Brian Roy filed his original notice of civil claim on March 25, 2019. He alleges 20 airports are wrongly charging the “passenger tax” on airline employees and their family members who use an employee travel pass. Roy also accused the airports of concealing their governing agreements.
Last September, Justice Lisa Warren heard an application by PGAA, Vancouver International Airport Authority and Victoria International Airport Authority to dismiss Roy’s lawsuit because Roy has never been a BC resident and the Class Proceedings Act requires one. The three BC defendants also accused
Roy of abuse of process.
“He disputes the BC defendants’ characterization of his conduct as an abusive effort to circumvent the statutory residency requirement, and asserts that he is merely attempting to address a defect in his pleadings,” Warren said in her March 19 decision.
As a remedy, in February 2024, Roy proposed adding a BC resident named Benjamin Scott.
Warren decided that Roy’s lack of
City seeks input on public skating
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The City of Prince George has launched an online survey seeking feedback on its public skating programs.
The survey aims to gauge resident satisfaction with current programs and gather suggestions on how they could be improved.
The results will help shape a new request for proposal (RFP) to determine the city’s programming for future skating seasons.
“The city’s contract with the current program operator ends at the close of this skating season, so now is the perfect time to review what we offer and understand what residents want to see at our arenas moving forward,” said Debbie Heywood, event services manager.
“The input we gather through the survey will inform the new RFP, which will be open for bidding later this spring.”
Current programs are operated by North Edge Ice Sports and include indoor public skating at the Elksentre and Kopar Memorial Arena, adult drop-in hockey at Kin 2, and special events and private lessons.
Skate time is allocated by city staff according to the city’s space allocation policy, which ensures fair and equitable distribution of ice time among public skating programs, youth and adult sports leagues, nonprofit programs, and School District 57 programs. This policy allows for optimal space utilization, timing, and programming.
In most cases, ice time is available for public skating programs between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays and during specific hours on weekends. Skating programs typically run from October to March.
Residents can take the online survey until April 17, 2025.
More information can be found at www.princegeorge.ca.
standing in BC was not enough to nullify the claim and accepted the addition of Scott as the representative plaintiff.
Warren said the court has the inherent jurisdiction to backdate an order and add Scott as a plaintiff to the date the claim was initiated.
The three defendants accused Roy of abuse of process by “forum shopping” — taking multiple actions in different jurisdictions — by commencing a claim with a token plaintiff as a placeholder
and taking steps to “circumvent” the residency requirement.
Warren ruled they fell “far short” of the high threshold to dismiss Roy’s action.
“The only conduct on the part of Mr. Roy that could potentially be criticized was the commencement of the claim in his name despite the express language of (the residency requirement of the Class Proceedings Act),” Warren wrote. “I have concluded that it would be just and equitable in this case to add Mr. Scott to cure that defect.”
Of the three BC defendants, Prince George charges the highest airport improvement fee at $35 per each originating departing passenger. Victoria and Vancouver charge $25 each. Vancouver, however, charges $5 for passengers flying in BC or Yukon. When YVR launched its version of the tax on passengers in 1993, it claimed it was a temporary measure to pay for terminal expansion.
Prince George International Airport is one of three BC airports named in a class-action suit.
Hydro updates left a lot of us feeling unplugged
KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor
Not sure if you'll have electricity overnight Sunday through Monday? Likewise.
There’s been a lot of confusion surrounding the planned power outage in Prince George on March 30 and 31. The situation has been poorly managed by the province’s electrical utility, leaving local residents frustrated and uncertain.
After we first informed our readers about the outage, we were flooded with people reaching out to tell us our news report was wrong.
They were receiving emails and phone calls from BC Hydro with conflicting information about the status of the outage.
Some were told that the outage was canceled, while others were informed it was still set to occur.
The overall message: Our story was wrong.
We reached out to BC Hydro for an explanation, verified that our information was accurate, and published that update — but the confusion continued. We’re still hearing about it a week later, and it's popping up in conversations everywhere.
This inconsistency sparked confusion and heightened concerns within the community.
Instead of providing clear and unified communication, BC Hydro's messaging to us and to our readers continues to be contradictory. This makes an already disruptive situation even more difficult for their customers to navigate.
So what happened? It’s hard to say, other than it was some kind of breakdown within one of BC Hydro’s departments. This is turning into a case of “finding out the hard way,” as you’ll know for sure if your property has power or not come Sunday night.
Whether your home is on the list or not, it’s probably a good idea to make sure your devices are charged before Sunday supper and have flashlights and battery-powered lamps ready. If candles are your preferred source lighting or for the additional heat, remember to be fire safe.
People who may be affected should also plan for a cold night. The forecast, as this is being written, calls for a drop to -2 C while the power’s out. Few of us have heat that functions without electricity, making this planned outage even more disruptive.
BC Hydro saying it has to replace utility poles emphasizes the importance of replacing aging high-voltage transmission structures to minimizing long-term outages.
However, the handling of this situation makes us wonder if the people at BC Hydro who schedule these things have spent any time in PG during this
time of the year. The ground is still frozen or semi-frozen, making that task difficult; will these new poles shift after things thaw a bit more?
The decision to proceed with this outage during such an inconvenient time only amplifies the frustration people are expressing as they are wondering what they will be facing Monday morning as they are getting up to get their children off to school and themselves off to work.
Circling back to what really has people talking: why has it been so difficult for BC Hydro, using all of their technology, to keep people informed with accurate, detailed information about a planned outage?
It’s apparent that BC Hydro should look into better ways to clearly inform its customers, so that we aren’t left in the dark (and the cold).
Have your say on this topic with a letter to the editor: editor@pgcitizen.ca.
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the financial
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Letters to the editor are welcome. The maximum length is 300 words. Letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity, grammar, spelling and legalities prior to publication. Please include your daytime contact information.
BC Hydro is planning an outage overnight Sunday and into Monday that will affect as many as 14,000 Prince George homes.
Cameron Stolz Owner / Publisher
Terresa Randall-Stolz Owner
acknowledge
support of the government of Canada.
reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor
OPINION
The Bay: Goodbye to a piece of Canadian history
As I See It
When I was a child, growing up in Vancouver, one of our annual traditions was to take the bus downtown and marvel at the display windows at the Hudson Bay Company store.
There were always some animatronics with elves making toys or reindeer prancing on roofs.
And then we would go upstairs in the store to the restaurant where we would have a Christmas breakfast with Santa Claus.
As I remember, it wasn’t the fanciest of meals — pancakes and sausages or scrambled eggs — but that wasn’t the point.
The excitement in the room came from waiting for the arrival of the jolly old elf himself.
When Santa arrived, he would sit in a big chair and every child would get a present.
They weren’t expensive items but it didn’t really matter. Meeting Santa was the exciting part.
With what’s happening to the Hudson Bay Company, this sort of event won’t happen anymore.
Indeed, with the demise of the department store (Sears, HBC, Woodwards, Kresge’s, etc.), we are seeing a major shift in shopping but also the role these companies played in the social fabric of communities.
I must admit I rarely shopped at the Hudson Bay Company store in Prince George.
I used to shop at Sears on a more frequent basis but that store disappeared years ago. However, I also don’t shop online and this seems to be the replacement for department stores in our modern economy.
I don’t know how many times I have tried to find an item and someone has told me “Well, just go online and order it.”
After all, it will be delivered in one or two days. How much more convenient can you get than that?
At the same time, something like 97 per cent of businesses in Canada are small businesses with less than 10 employees and usually a local owner. But these businesses are going under. Northern Hardware and a host of other downtown staples are no longer to be found.
The latest move — shutting down The Bay — will leave a Prince George shopping centre without a major anchor tenant.
It will further impact the downtown shopping district and Parkwood Place.
Although news stories have said The Donald’s tariffs are to blame, I would suggest they are only the last and final straw.
A company doesn’t get a billion in debt and have so many outstanding creditors in the space of two months.
But yes, tariffs were probably the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
Really, we are being hit by multiple waves of change — COVID, online shopping, online services, inflation and now a kick in the pants from down south.
In Prince George, this is on top of a forest industry running low on fibre and with a stagnant population.
It is not all gloom and doom. There are still some thriving businesses. There is still strong economic activity. And judging by the number of houses that I see getting built, there is optimism for the future.
But the loss of one of Canada’s trademark institutions is certainly a chilling sight.
Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC.
A reader has some thoughts on city council’s recent decision to say ‘no’ to funding for an environmental program.
LETTERS EDITOR
‘Unbelievable’
to the
that council would turn down funding
Regarding your editorial, “Why say no to ‘free money.”
In a word, unbelievable. Apart from the obvious benefits re environment, wildfire mitigation, and international relations; not to mention the city’s stature in the wider world, and the support of staff, mayor and others, have none of the dissenting councillors been to Jasper since the July 2024 wildfire and seen what the devastation of losing a third of the town and 35 kilometres of mountain valley looks like?
And for a town that was arguably better prepared than most?
Further, in 47 years of living in Prince George, I can’t recall a city council so divided among themselves and a mayor at odds with so many council decisions. Is there a leadership issue here?
Mike Nash
Prince George
An unelected prime minister is a sign of eroding freedoms
What a hullabaloo! Here we have a so-called democratic country allowing the installation of an unelected individual (Mark Carney) as the new “prime minister” of Canada. Something like this would never happen in the United States.
Canadian soldiers in the last world war very resolutely and courageously fought to uphold and embrace the
cherished freedoms of democracy. It is very sad, but today Canada has lost the resolve to maintain and support an adequately sized military force. We have farmed out our dirty work.
The wise American President Abraham Lincoln, who was self-educated by the way, had a short but very effective saying on democracy. He simply described democracy as being “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
So, for the 29 million eligible Canadian voters who absolutely had no say in the installation of this latest prime minister, maybe it is time we had a wakeup call. I just cannot fathom that we in the not-too-distant future could naively relinquish our historic, well-fought freedoms.
Gerald Klassen
Prince George
Vacant lot on Victoria could become new green space
The subject would be on adding more green space to Victoria Street on the opposite side of Lordco Auto Parts.
There is about 200 metres of what looks like it hasn’t seen improvement in the past 40 years.
Let’s get it cleaned up and planted (maple trees), maybe gazebos and picnic tables (concrete).
We need to be more family-oriented. Fences feel like prison. We need a place where we can meet friends and family gatherings.
Maybe a fire pit or two.
Bernard Greene
Prince George
TODD WHITCOMBE
OPINION
Council extends Official Community Plan public hearing to April 9
If the two developers threatening to sue the city have started the development process with the city they should be grandfathered in under the current OCP.
They say they are “working towards” or “working on plans” if this is things like raising capital or searching for an engineering firm to do conceptual plans, etc., then it really hasn’t got off the ground and should have to conform with the OCP in place when a developer has all his ducks in a row & applies to the city.
That said it’s not like a PG OCP plan is etched in stone, not even in chalk on a blackboard.
More like fine flour dusted on a counter that can be blown away with a slight puff.
Bobs your uncle
Hospital district board approves 2025 operating budget
NHA serves over 285,000 residents across an area of 592,116 square kilometers, encompassing the northern two-thirds of the province. That’s an area larger than France.
18 hospitals
25 long-term care facilities
50 health facilities in total
I’d like to see the statistics in relation to salaries.
What does each VP do?
Please explain!
Lou Maurice
Liquidation to begin Monday at Prince George Bay store
I worked holiday relief at Hudson’s Bay as a teenager when it was downtown where City Furniture now is. A nice store with big cafeteria.
Also downtown was Northern Hardware, Kresge’s (with a diner), Eaton’s (I think where Bi-Rite is), Sears on Third across from Third Avenue Pharmacy, Woolworth’s also on Third, McLeod’s on Fourth and
Council extends Official Community Plan public hearing to April 9
I have observed something in PG over my many years of living here that is getting progressively worse over time.
We have a lack of trust when it comes to being out and about and providing that feeling of being safe in many settings.
One of the few places where people congregate and have that little bit of feeling of safety is Ginter’s Park.
We need to maintain, enhance the safety for citizens of our city in not only Ginters but other areas where people can gather and feel a small level of security, so that we do not end up being like other large centers in our province.
Lighting and welcoming areas that provide that continued security, go a long ways to help people to remain the social creatures that we are.
Darcy Hanson
Stedman’s in Spruceland (also with a dining area). Woodward’s at the original Parkwood Mall had a restaurant and a Food Floor.
Always looked forward to the catalogues from Eaton’s and
James Steidle: We should be able to process our milk in the north
Not only is it time to support our local farmers, but it should be a priority of our government to ensure that the manufacturing and processing of all products (not just dairy) is done as locally as possible.
It just makes sense for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to carbon emissions, local economy and job growth, diversity and resiliency.
I highly support the work that regulatory bodies have done and are doing to ensure that Canadian dairy products are free of artificial growth hormones (rbST), unlike the majority of American dairy products.
However, what BC Milk is doing to control the industry and support what is knocking on the door of a monopoly is just wrong.
Lucky #2
Sears, especially the Christmas ones.
This was all before Pine Centre was built. My, but things have sure changed, and I’m not sure for the better.
James Steidle: We should be able to process our milk in the north
Anyone ever go to any of the fish canneries in Prince Rupert region? Eventually all the canned salmon was labeled in the same plant for various retail companies. Then they all shut down.That is no different than forestry, dairy, eggs, and retail stores.
Most don’t care where something comes from. They’ll pay less to buy from Jeff Bezos even if it means a neighbour becomes unemployed or a Canadian corporate icon goes bankrupt.
Mr. Steidle gets it, some others get it, others prefer coping with cognitive dissonance and/ or worshipping billionaires and big-shot CEOS.
Lou Maurice
D B A
Council’s OCP approval process delayed until April
Chambers packed as hearing runs long
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The audience for the public hearing on Prince George’s new draft Official Community Plan, held Wednesday, March 19, filled all available seats and left some residents standing against the side walls of council chambers. Additionally, more residents called in to share their thoughts.
After almost three and a half hours of speakers, council adjourned the hearing and set a date to reconvene on Wednesday, April 9, for further comments from residents. As a result, the third reading of the bylaw approving the OCP was not passed as scheduled.
The most prominent topics raised during the hearing included calls for increased protections for greenspaces and concerns from developers who felt changes to the OCP could affect the value of their land.
Following the passage of the first two readings of bylaws establishing the new OCP and related zoning changes, council was required to hold a public hearing before proceeding with the third and fourth readings.
Municipalities and regional districts are required by provincial legislation to have an Official Community Plan as an overarching guide for growth and development. Local governments must update their OCPs by the end of 2025 and again by the end of 2028.
Before the meeting, representatives from the local advocacy group Ginter’s Green Forever (GGF) handed out packages to attendees labelled “Three Amendments of the OCP to Save Ginter’s and Forests for the World.”
Ahead of the meeting, GGF expressed relief that planned road expansions through the greenspace along the bottom of Cranbrook Hill had been removed from the draft OCP but urged council to remove certain properties within the meadow from the Urban Containment Boundary and redesignate a right-of-way from Massey Drive to Ferry
Avenue as parkland.
The OCP discourages “further intensification of urban uses and densities on lands outside of the Urban Containment Boundary” and “further subdivision (both infill and new multi-lot development) or development of properties outside the Urban Containment Boundary that are urban in density and may warrant an urban level of servicing.”
The hearing alternated between residents speaking in person and those calling in by phone.
The first speaker was GGF organizer Jenn Matthews, who called in to reiterate the group’s position on removing the roads and advocating for more protections. She said the Urban Containment Boundary signals to developers where the city wants construction. With a relatively stagnant population, she argued that the boundary should shrink to protect cherished natural spaces while limiting urban sprawl.
In addition to advocating for Ginter’s Green, Matthews said she felt there was a lack of food security policy in the OCP and a need for more mixed-use residential options.
Michelle Oster, a 31-year resident of Prince George, called for more of Moore’s Meadow to be zoned as P1 (Parks and Recreation) rather than AF
not based in Prince George. He clarified that he lives in the city and that his company was founded through a donation to the Mennonite Central Committee, which helps people globally.
Another developer, Victor Nguyen of Glenview Crescent Development Inc., said his company’s development plans for Knight Crescent in the Hart have been affected by the removal of his property from the Urban Containment Boundary. Tierney Watkinson, a frequent user of Ginter’s Green and Forests for the World, urged council to protect these spaces and focus development in existing urban areas. “Please do not let money kill the environment, especially with climate change,” Watkinson said.
(Agriculture and Forestry). She cited a 2023 study from the University of Northern British Columbia in which most respondents “strongly agreed” that the wildlife in Moore’s Meadow was important to them.
Oster also referenced the city’s own public engagement findings, which showed that residents prioritized parks, trails, and recreation areas. She argued that AF zoning would put an established wildlife corridor at risk and that spills from future development could harm the local water supply.
Nav Aulakh, the owner of a property on Silvercrest Road in the Hart, said he had not been properly notified that his property was being excluded from the Urban Containment Boundary. He added that he wouldn’t have purchased the property if he had known this would happen and asked that his property remain within the boundary.
Glen Froese of Hyland Properties said his company’s $200-million development on 2000 Central Ave. was delayed due to the timing of the public hearing. He noted that city staff had previously told them the new plan would be approved by February or March.
Froese later responded to criticisms from speakers who said that many of the developers raising concerns were
Perry Slump, president of the Prince George Farmers’ Institute, expressed concern that the OCP did not adequately address agriculture, food, and food security. He said it was more important than ever to protect access to agricultural lands, given recent geopolitical tensions.
Martha Ridsdale voiced her support for protecting Ginter’s Green in the OCP, saying she uses the trails there year-round.
Kevin Cunin, president of the Prince George Western Heritage Society, asked for the OCP to reflect the society’s growth, including the need for a large, covered grandstand at their rodeo grounds, which currently lacks sufficient shelter or seating.
At one point, there was a moment of levity when a speaker inadvertently spoke to someone else off-microphone, unaware that the audience could hear. City staff moved on to the next speaker. Will Dong, the owner of a property on Shamrock Drive, said he was unaware his land would be excluded from the Urban Containment Boundary and designated as Rural Resource. He argued this would jeopardize his plans to build 550 housing units near Hart Highlands Elementary. Dong also criticized the planned road network, asking council to reinstate road extensions from the previous OCP.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
For the first two hours of the a public hearing on the new Official Community Plan on the evening of Wednesday, March 19 at Prince George City Hall, the gallery was standing room only.
Developers considering legal action over draft OCP
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Two developers say they’ll consider legal action against the City of Prince George if the draft Official Community Plan is passed as-is and two city councillors called for the March 19 public hearing to be postponed.
The meeting went ahead as scheduled.
Developer Will Dong told The Citizen that he purchased the property 4729 Shamrock Rd. in the Hart three years ago and has been working towards building around 550 housing units on the property.
Another developer, Nav Aulakh, said his company purchased nearby 2913 Silvercrest Rd. about a year and a half ago and has been working on plans to develop up to 240 housing units in phases. Both men said they thought their work with the city’s planning
department was going well until they found out that the draft OCP currently going through the approval process before city council would see their properties removed from the urban containment boundary.
Under the OCP, the city discourages the “further intensification of urban uses
and densities on lands outside of the Urban Containment Boundary” as well as “further subdivision (both infill and new multi-lot development) or development of properties outside of the Urban Containment Boundary that are urban in density and may warrant an urban level of servicing.”
“I purchased my property three years ago because the current effective OCP supported 22 units per hectare,” Dong said.
“I had a concept development plan (for) about 550 units and I presented that to the city’s planning department last July and … in the meanwhile they did not tell me anything about the potential OCP change.”
Dong said that in January of this year, he sent an email to the planning department asking if there were any impending zoning or OCP changes and was told there weren’t.
He said that felt strange to him as in the other municipalities he develops in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, there were discussions surrounding their plans and their needs to meet the province’s mandated housing targets.
PLEASE SEE ‘OWNERS’ ON PAGE 13
Hearing includes input on green spaces, development
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
A later speaker, however, contested Dong’s comments, arguing that the area around Shamrock Road was not fully within the Urban Containment Boundary in the previous OCP and opposing the proposed development.
James Wylie, a Shamrock Road resident, expressed support for Dong’s development, saying that landowners’ opportunities to develop should be supported.
UNBC professor and registered professional planner Annie Booth criticized the OCP’s public engagement process. She argued the plan did not reflect the values of the entire city, particularly those of younger generations.
Booth also criticized piecemeal decision-making in the city and suggested that Prince George should focus on providing appropriate housing options for students. She left a package of illustrations created by her students, urging council to consider the desires of the next generation.
Selene Maxwell, another member of Ginter’s Green Forever, called Ginter’s Green a sanctuary for residents, likening it to Stanley Park in Vancouver. She argued that brownfields, not greenspaces, should be used for development.
James Steidle, a GGF organizer and Citizen columnist, said the city should take natural assets more seriously. He argued that the city does not know if new developments are paying for themselves and criticized the increasing urban footprint despite a relatively stable population.
Kayla Wiens, who moved to Prince George in 2017, said the city’s trails and greenspaces were a major reason she chose to stay. She expressed concern about the potential loss of trails around Forests for the World.
Kelly-Anne Heinrichs opposed urban sprawl into greenspaces, citing empty lots in areas like University Heights as better development options.
David Greenberg warned that unchecked growth could lead to the
loss of important greenspaces, calling for the northern end of Moore’s Meadow to be rezoned as a park.
Sabrina Angus, interim CEO of the Prince George Airport Authority, called for the restoration of the airport’s land use authority in the OCP. She noted that Transport Canada’s guidelines require consideration of land use around aerodromes to ensure compatibility with aircraft safety.
One speaker raised concerns about the lack of discussion around 15-minute cities and smart cities in the OCP, referencing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations.
Ed Dylke expressed concerns about the potential for wildfires to affect Prince George, referencing the devastation seen in other communities like Kelowna and Fort McMurray. He urged council to include more thorough action plans for wildfire threats.
Kyle Moffat, a First Nations woman, implored council to protect natural areas for future generations to learn from.
Patrick Cummins echoed previous speakers’ concerns and urged council to “do the right thing.”
After all the speakers finished, Coun. Cori Ramsay noted that the hearing had been scheduled during spring break, when many residents were out of town. She suggested that it might be prudent to reschedule the hearing to ensure more people could attend.
Ethan Anderson, manager of legislative services, said that returning speakers would be given an additional five minutes, while first-time speakers would receive the full 10 minutes.
Ramsay moved to adjourn the hearing and reconvene on Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in council chambers. The motion passed unanimously.
Deanna Wasnik, director of planning and development, reminded council that the city has time to adjust the OCP but must meet the provincial deadlines. She also suggested concurrent changes to both the current and draft plans to allow developers to proceed with their projects.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
Residents fill council chambers at Prince George city hall for a public hearing on the new Official Community Plan on the evening of Wednesday, March 19.
Owners say boundary changes would hurt financially
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
He said he didn’t find out about the situation until a few weeks after, when an internet search turned out news stories about Prince George’s new draft OCP and he saw on provided maps that his properties had been placed outside of the Urban Containment Boundary.
Though the OCP can be amended, Dong said he didn’t think council would approve changes to the boundary in the future.
Many of his neighbours, he said, didn’t know their properties were similarly affected until he started reaching out to them.
That included Aulakh, who said in a phone interview from the Abbotsford area that he has been working with the city to create a development plan for the property.
“We bought the project taking into consideration the development potential of the project,” Aulakh said.
Aulakh said he had submitted an initial plan to build more than 60 single-family homes and the last time he spoke with his contact in the planning department, he was excited to hear that under BC’s small-scale, multiunit housing legislation, his company would be able to build duplexes in the subdivision.
He said he found out that his property was being shifted out of the Urban Containment Boundary on Jan. 31, but he couldn’t deal with the issue properly until last week because he was out of the country.
Both developers said they have been reaching out to the city and city council to air their concerns about the changes in the OCP and would like them addressed before the plan is officially adopted.
If the plan goes ahead unchanged, the developers said it would lower their property values and make the plots difficult to sell. In such a case, they said, they are considering taking legal action against the city over what they see as a lack of consultation.
Because of the issues over consultation, including these developers’
concerns, councillors Trudy Klassen and Brian Skakun told The Citizen that they advocated for the March 19 public hearing to be postponed, though they said it was still going ahead.
Klassen had previously called for more consultation before moving forward with the OCP at previous council meetings, voting against first and second reading of the bylaw establishing the new plan.
“I voted against both readings because I knew of (Dong’s) concerns, I knew of a few others that had already emailed us,” Klassen said.
She said she felt both the consultation on the OCP as well as the public notice
biggest worry is that our city is developing a reputation of making it difficult for builders, for developers to build and grow our city.”
Skakun said he had reviewed case law of litigation against local governments over OCPs where they were found liable over a lack of consultation and was worried this could make Prince George vulnerable in court.
He said he felt the city could have done a better job with consultation, citing a conversation he had with a mobile home park developer who said he found out just earlier this week that his property was being taken out of the Urban Containment Boundary.
Skakun said he is planning to put forward a motion to have the boundary remain the same as it was in the existing 2012 OCP until affected developers can be consulted, along with others.
He said he believed that third reading of the OCP bylaw, which is scheduled to take place after the public hearing (which was extended into April), wouldn’t go through due to these concerns as well as those raised by Ginter’s Green Forever about protections for that greenspace.
Mayor Simon Yu told The Citizen that he has similar concerns, but that there was no mechanism to postpone the public hearing and wanted it to go ahead.
given ahead of time for it were inadequate. She said there should have been three or four draft versions and more sit-down meetings before passing the bylaw.
“To be voting on it now is like we’re three or four steps ahead of ourselves, we shouldn’t be voting on the OCP yet,” she said.
On the Urban Containment Boundary, Klassen said she’s heard feedback that Prince George has a lack of available industrial lands and by restricting the boundary, the city is obliterating its chance to grow.
“My biggest worry is actually not even the legal action,” Klassen said. “My
“We will hear from the developers affected and the citizens and then if the councillors wish that they need some major amendments taking place, then council has the option to amend it one at a time or they can rescind the motion they passed in the previous meeting and send this back to the drawing board,” Yu said.
During the hearing, he said council would be able to hear both why the developers are concerned as well as why administration is proposing that the boundary be changed.
Yu said he was also worried about the potential legal consequences if the current draft plan is passed.
“It’s always concerning as the head of the city because the taxpayer might be exposed to the liability,” he said.
CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE
Shaded areas on this map from the City of Prince George’s draft Official Community Plan show properties that are in the urban containment boundary.
Another Moccasin Flats shelter goes up in flames
An RCMP officer heads to the scene of a structure fire at Moccasin Flats on Thursday, March 2. The blaze started around 1:50 p.m. and fire crews responded shortly after, putting out the flames within minutes. There were no injuries.
Webcam ‘romance’ ends in civil complaint
BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
In a “he said, she said” situation, both parties accused the other of fabricating evidence and neither provided proof.
So a BC Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) member had to decide which side was more credible.
A woman, identified only as A.Y. because of a publication ban, applied under BC’s Intimate Images Protection Act for a protection order against B.Z. and $5,000 in damages for after he allegedly shared her intimate images online.
They met online in September 2023 and communicated via webcam, but never in person. A.Y. said she “quickly lost interest” in B.Z. and stopped communicating with him in May 2024. Then, she claimed, he threatened to share intimate images of her that she said were sent via the Telegram
messaging app.
She provided text messages that she said were from the respondent which denigrated her and threatened to share the images online.
“The messages also indicate the sender posted the images online,” said CRT member Megan Stewart in the March 7 decision.
The respondent, B.Z., said the woman assumed a false identity when she initially communicated with him and he eventually stopped communicating with her.
Then, he said, she allegedly created a Facebook page accusing him of being a “sex predator.”
The woman denied she was behind the Facebook page and claimed B.Z. had made it. But Stewart was not convinced, deeming it likely she did so.
“I find it would be highly unusual for a person to say the sorts of things that appear there about themselves and in such detail, even if they were attempting
Conditional discharge for woman who assaulted doctor
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism
A judge in Prince George provincial court gave a 29-year-old woman a conditional discharge and two years probation Wednesday, March 19 after she pleaded guilty to assaulting and threatening medical personnel.
Kelsey Inez Burke was charged with assault, uttering threats and assault by choking after incidents on Oct. 22 and 23 in Prince George.
During the sentencing hearing, court heard that the incidents were unprovoked and the choking victim was a doctor.
Judge Martin Nadon agreed to the joint sentencing proposal from Crown and defence lawyers, noting Burke had no prior criminal record.
to attribute responsibility for it to another person,” Stewart wrote.
Ultimately, Stewart found the respondent’s tone different from the text messages A.Y. alleged that he sent.
“I find there is simply nothing to link the respondent to those text messages, when faced with repeated denials that he sent them, and the lack of conclusive evidence that he did,” Stewart wrote.
The applicant did not prove her case against the respondent, so Stewart dismissed the claim. The dispute file was sealed, but the applicant may consent for the CRT to share the dispute file with the Intimate Images Protection Service of the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
More than a year ago, the NDP government enacted the law, which covers intimate images, near-nude images, videos, livestreams and deepfakes. It gave the CRT power to fine an individual as much as $500 per day or a website as much as $5,000 per day.
“I’m well aware of the concerns on the part of the hospital and hospital staff these days, with respect to violence in the hospitals,” Nadon said.
“I understand that, but it’s clear when I read the two fitness reports that were obtained in the background for Miss Burke, that she has a history of mental illness.”
Nadon said Burke was undergoing a manic phase at the time, but is now stable, has supports, is compliant with medication and hoping to carry on her rehabilitation in a residential program.
“What we hope for is that people that have mental health difficulties avail themselves of the resources that are available and are compliant with their doctor’s instructions,” Nadon said.
Burke’s conditions include undergoing an assessment for counselling or treatment, to not contact three people and not possess weapons.
If Burke successfully completes the probation, she will not have a conviction for the offence on her record.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIARD
Initiative Reporter
Downtown businesses could fund new security patrols
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Prince George’s Standing Committee on Public Safety is exploring the potential for overnight safety patrols funded through a local area service, aimed at enhancing security for downtown businesses.
Ahead of the Tuesday, March 18, meeting, Eric Depenau, director of administrative services, prepared a report outlining four potential options for improving overnight security in the downtown core.
These options included hiring private security to patrol downtown overnight, establishing a night shift for bylaw services, expediting the addition of extra officers to the local RCMP detachment, and reinstating the overnight fire patrols program, which involved bylaw officers, firefighters, and the RCMP last year.
During the discussion, both downtown advocacy group representatives and committee members expressed interest in gauging downtown business owners’ willingness to contribute to private security through a local area service.
Local area services allow municipalities to establish funding for a service that is paid for only by users who benefit from it, rather than the entire population.
During his presentation, Depenau estimated that it would cost about $400,000 annually to hire two guards for mobile patrols from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., covering the period when bylaw services are not active. The guards would observe and report incidents within a defined area.
He suggested the city could partner with Downtown Prince George (DPG) to survey its members and assess support for a local area service.
DPG president Eoin Foley, co-owner of Nancy O’s and Betulla Burning, said a private patrol was something he had long advocated for, seeing it as the “fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to provide overnight peace of mind for business owners and property owners.”
Similar to the security camera pilot project that DPG and the Prince George
Chamber of Commerce are jointly overseeing, Foley said his organization could consider contracting out the patrol, relieving the city from having to manage it.
He noted that every DPG member he had spoken to expressed interest in contributing to the program. Although DPG primarily represents businesses in commercially zoned areas of downtown, Foley added that businesses across Queensway in the industrial zone had also shown interest in such a program.
City manager Walter Babicz pointed out that to establish a local area service, the city must receive a petition showing support from both 50 per cent plus one of the properties affected by the service and 50 per cent plus one of the total property value impacted by it.
He clarified that the cost of implementing the patrol would depend on how much of the cost would be covered by general taxation versus those in the local area.
Deputy corporate officer Leslie Kellett said the city’s cost would be limited to mailing notices to affected property owners and staff time for preparing the petition.
Coun. Brian Skakun expressed concerns about asking business owners to bear an additional $400,000 annual cost, noting that many are already struggling.
Kellett suggested that business owners could signal support for the program by circulating an informal petition or expression of interest, which could
then be submitted to the city to inform staff’s work.
The city’s website includes an example of an expression of interest form for local area services.
Once the city is ready to issue a formal petition, Kellett estimated a waiting period of about 45 days to receive responses.
Even if DPG manages the funds for the program, Mayor Simon Yu emphasized that the city would retain some responsibility. He noted that the procurement process terms would need to be defined before issuing the formal petition to ensure transparency.
Committee member Miranda Seymour, who is running for Lheidli T’enneh First Nation council in the April 9 election, raised concerns about the impact of a downtown patrol on unhoused individuals, wondering whether they would be constantly monitored or asked to move along.
Depenau clarified that the patrols would focus on issues such as fires, fights, and broken windows, with the guards reporting these incidents to the police rather than relocating individuals. If someone were found camping outside a business, they would be directed to a shelter for the night.
PLEASE SEE ‘NEW’ ON PAGE 16
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
Prince George’s Standing Committee on Public Safety discusses overnight downtown security options at its Tuesday, March 18 meeting in a second-floor boardroom at city hall.
Man gets jail time, probation for firearms offences
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A 28-year-old man was sentenced to another nine days in jail and then 18 months on probation after pleading guilty to firearms offences March 17 in Prince George Provincial Court.
Judge Martin Nadon sentenced Wade William Fleury to a total 713 days in jail. Fleury pleaded guilty to possession of a sawed-off shotgun with readily accessible ammunition, for which Nadon gave him 533 days time served.
Nadon sentenced Fleury to 180 days consecutive for possessing a firearm while under a firearms prohibition, reduced to nine days because of a 171day time-served credit.
The probation conditions for Fleury include transfer to a residential treatment centre in Savona. Fleury must not be within 10 kilometres of Prince George and is not allowed to own firearms for life.
The court heard that, on Dec. 5, 2023 at 10:49 p.m., RCMP were called to a report of a shotgun fired near the 3000 block of 10th Avenue. The caller described two suspects wearing
In addition to time in a treatment program, the convicted man must not be within 10 km of Prince George and is not allowed to own firearms for life.
hoodies who ran toward Highway 97. At 11:01 p.m., officers found two males matching the caller’s description. An officer put Fleury under arrest for careless use of a firearm. An officer asked Fleury to remove his hands from inside the kangaroo pocket of his hoodie.
When he complied, the butt of a firearm became visible to the officer. The
shotgun fell to the ground while he was being handcuffed.
In a statement to police on Dec. 6, 2023, Fleury took full responsibility for the incident. He told police he had been drunk when he shot a single round into the sky.
He said that he gave his jacket to another individual who was cold and
forgot that the ammunition was inside the jacket.
Nadon also sentenced Fleury to 30 days time served for possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Fleury pleaded guilty to that charge on Nov. 21, 2024, after threatening a security guard at Parkwood Place with a knife on Oct. 2, 2023.
Nadon said the joint Crown and defence sentencing submission made “perfect sense.”
Fleury, who is Indigenous, has suffered head injuries, drug addiction and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
“He has, to his credit, from the very beginning, insisted that he plead guilty on this matter,” Nadon said. “I will say that, with respect to the more serious matter, the possession of the sawed-off shotgun, although the Crown would have had a fairly solid case.”
Nadon said Fleury was to be commended for working with elders and counsellors while in custody, in order to get his life back on track.
“Mr. Fleury, I appreciate that, as you sit there today, right now, all you’re thinking about is you’d like to get out of jail, but I can tell you this, that it’s now that hard work starts,” Nadon said.
New technology is helping police: RCMP superintendent
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If the private security officers would only be observing and reporting, Yu questioned whether expanding the security camera pilot project might be a more efficient approach.
Prince George RCMP officer-in-charge Supt. Darin Rappel pointed to Kelowna, where the city uses security camera systems to dispatch guards from Commissionaires based on the footage. He noted that well-trained private security could serve as valuable witnesses for RCMP investigations, much like law enforcement relies on loss prevention officers from retailers such as London Drugs or Shoppers Drug Mart. Rappel also mentioned that, similar to police adopting body-worn cameras, private security is increasingly using
technology that can assist police in identifying suspects.
Foley added that many DPG members often contact authorities in the morning, around 7 or 8 a.m., after incidents have already occurred overnight. He suggested that cameras could potentially be mounted on the security patrol vehicles, tying them into the city’s existing security camera pilot project.
Another committee member, John Zukowski, owner of Pacific Body Jewellery & Piercing, stressed the importance of offering appropriate pay for downtown security personnel to attract qualified candidates. He also noted that having bylaw officers patrol overnight could be difficult, as it would require negotiating changes to their union contract regarding hours and responsibilities.
“I see this as an opportunity for us to address an issue in our downtown business district without overburdening businesses with excessive taxes,” Zukowski said.
“The reality is, many businesses are already struggling with increased taxes and rental costs passed down by property owners, and now we have the added issue of crime. It’s becoming very expensive to keep the doors open.”
DPG executive director Colleen Van Mook, who is set to retire on May 2, expressed the desire for her organization to be involved in the program’s setup, citing its resources and experience working with private security.
“We want to be able to work with the RCMP and bylaw services,” said Van Mook. “This isn’t just about getting a quote from a security firm; it’s about
creating a comprehensive program with the community to increase safety for our businesses and citizens.”
Babicz recommended that the first step in the process be for downtown businesses to submit an expression of interest. City council could then direct administration to begin analyzing costs and implementation plans.
He added that staff could work with DPG to draft the wording for the expression of interest.
At the start of the meeting, Karmjeet Manhas was introduced as the newest public member of the committee, replacing Robert Gagnon, who resigned from both the committee and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation council in early 2025.
Coun. Ron Polillo was absent from the meeting.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Shingle fire spreads in Oak Street backyard
A neighbour helps out with his hose as city fire crews battle a blaze in the backyard of a house in the 2100 block of Oak Street early Friday, March 21. The fire, which started about 6:45 am, consumed a stack of shingles and the fence into the back alley. There did not appear to be any injuries. The firefighters got it under control quickly. Damage is estimated at $10,000, and the fire is under investigation.
Man arrested with Taser given lifetime firearms ban
COURT NOTES
A man pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 19 in Prince George provincial court to possessing a Taser while on a lifetime firearms prohibition.
Judge Martin Nadon sentenced Edward Thomas Harris, 41, to time served and a year on probation.
Harris, who was charged with the Sept. 25, 2023 offences in Prince George, received 80 days for possessing the stun gun and 21 days for breaching the firearms ban, for a total 101 days.
Harris will not spend additional time in jail, because the 67 days he spent in custody counted as 101 days under the court’s enhanced credit formula.
“Interestingly that’s as a result of a conviction back in December 2011,” Nadon said.
“Again, he was in possession of a Taser, he received some time in custody, 18 month probation and a [firearms ban] for life, which is an order that he breached here.”
In 2011, Harris was arrested after the RCMP’s explosive disposal unit was called to destroy a bomb on a rural property outside Prince George.
Nadon said Harris has two young children that he visits and for which he pays child support.
“He’s had a chance to sober up and says he wants to go on probation and said he would agree to a counselling term so he can deal with this issue,” Nadon said. “He wants to get back to work, he wants to be a productive member of society again.”
Charge stayed and trial cancelled in assault case
The scheduled trial in Prince George provincial court of a man charged with assault has been suddenly cancelled and the charge stayed.
Guillaume Saulnier, 40, was accused of committing the offence on Jan. 13, 2024. He was not in custody.
Crown prosecutor Kristina King told Judge David Simpkin that the charge had been stayed, but provided no further information. Saulnier’s lawyer, Wesley Perrin, was not present.
The official Crown policy is to keep reasons confidential unless the Assistant Deputy Attorney General decides it is in the public interest to comment on a case.
Damienne Darby of the BC Prosecution Service said the prosecutor received further information about the
Saulnier case and concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met.
“In these circumstances, a stay of proceedings is the appropriate course of action,” Darby said. Prosecutors decide to proceed with a case if it is in the public interest and there is a substantial likelihood of conviction.
Guilty plea from woman who drove without a licence
A woman charged with driving while prohibited or licence suspended pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on March 21 in Prince George Provincial Court.
Judge David Simpkin fined 53-year-old Elisa Diane Ginter $500 for driving without a licence under the Motor Vehicle Act.
Court heard that a Prince George RCMP officer pulled over a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Ginter on Nov. 10, 2024.
Ginter immediately advised the officer she did not have a driver’s licence or any other identification with her at the time.
Ginter otherwise co-operated and provided her name, date of birth, address and a BC Driver’s Licence keyword.
Police determined that her licence had been cancelled. An officer provided her a court appearance notice and notice of driving prohibition. Her vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Simpkin agreed to the joint Crown and defence submission of a $500 fine, which is in addition to the $700 Ginter paid to get the vehicle out of the impound lot.
Domestic assault leads to probation after time served
A 49-year-old man was sentenced to time served and 12 months probation March 18 for domestic violence and repeated breaches of court orders.
In Smithers provincial court, Richard Kenneth Naziel pleaded guilty to the Aug. 13, 2024 assault.
“During that altercation, he dragged (the victim) against her will, and also choked her,” said Judge Wendy Bernt. Naziel was bound by a series of no contact orders that he breached on Aug. 21 and 28. He breached an order again, on Nov. 19, by being within 50 metres from the victim.
Bernt sentenced Naziel to 90 days for the assault and 17 days for each of the breaches for a total 141 days.
However, he spent 94 days in custody and received a further 47 days credit.
New firefighting funds for regional district, Mackenzie
More than $9 million in funding for volunteer and composite fire departments announced by the BC Government on Friday, March 14 includes more than $500,000 for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and almost $40,000 for the District of Mackenzie.
The funding comes from the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, which the province said in a news release has provided more than $26 million in funding since it was established in 2017.
The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is getting $511,600 for emergency response equipment.
In an email sent Tuesday, March 18, manager of communications and culture Hilary Erasmus said the regional district worked with volunteer fire departments within its boundaries to determine their needs.
The funding will go towards self-contained breathing apparatus, carbon
fibre bottles and packs as well as compressors, wildland sprinklers and hoses, portable hand radios, tools, hoses, personal thermal imaging cameras, turnout
gear, water tanks, mark three pumps, heavy duty washing machines and dryers, a forced entry door for training, firefighting essentials, training manuals,
chainsaws and coveralls.
The Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department is getting $39,350 for live fire training, which Mayor Joan Atkinson said can be difficult for the community to access otherwise.
“This funding for live fire training will allow the Mackenzie Fire Rescue Department to reallocate our training budget to other critical needs,” Atkinson was quoted as saying in the province’s release.
“Securing recognized live fire training is difficult in northern B.C. due to the cost and logistics of attending the training, as the closest facilities are over 10 hours away. This funding allows 11 firefighters to complete the required training to become Interior firefighters while meeting requirements for our declared service level, enabling them to better protect the District of Mackenzie.”
Outside of the regional district, the District of Vanderhoof is getting $40,000 for hands-on training and the renewal of personal protective equipment and the District of Chetwynd will get $39,829 for equipment upgrades.
Carrier Sekani receives $25K for Burns Lake Foundry
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDF) board of directors has approved the distribution of $158,094 to six First Nations across Northern BC. The funds will be allocated to projects in Haisla, Fraser Lake, and Burns Lake.
Haisla Nation will receive $50,000 to assist with the construction of an in-vessel composting unit. Organic waste will be processed within the community, and the output will be used for community gardens, producing fruits and vegetables for the Nation’s food share program.
The Village of Burns Lake has been granted $50,000 towards the installation of a solar energy system. The system, consisting of 300 solar panels, will be
installed on the roof of the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena to help offset the electrical demand of the facility.
Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) will receive $25,000 to purchase furniture for the new Foundry Burns Lake. The Foundry is a province-wide network providing integrated health and wellness services for individuals aged 12 to 24. These services include physical and sexual health care, mental health care, substance use services, youth and family peer support, and social services, all in one location.
Carrier Sekani is committed to combining traditional Indigenous knowledge with leading Western practices to create effective care models for youth.
“Community is more important than ever, and NKDF is proud to support these important projects that help generate self-reliance, sustainable
energy, support our youth, and protect our resources,” said NKDF Chair Cindy Shelford.
Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society has been granted $18,347 to purchase a second Structure Protection Unit (SPU) trailer. The current SPU trailer is a provincial asset and will likely be deployed by BC Wildfire across the province.
The new trailer will have additional storage capacity to support both deployment and training activities.
“The Fraser Lake Fire Rescue Training Society is thrilled to partner with NKDF on this project,” said Dave Christie, president of the society. “NKDF’s values and our values align. Protecting structures and people’s livelihoods from wildfires in the RDBN is critical to enhancing the region’s economic development goals. We are thrilled to have
NKDF’s Board and staff standing with us as we move forward on this project.” Eagle Creek Recreation Commission will receive $10,072 to replace the pit toilets at the Eagle Creek Fairgrounds. These fairgrounds host the annual Lakes District Fair, as well as numerous other events throughout the year.
Lastly, the Lakes District Fair Association has been granted $4,675 to install electrical power in the sheep and swine barn. This will provide lighting and electrical outlets for fans during heatwaves and to prevent animal injury during periods of dense wildfire smoke.
For interested parties, the next grant application deadlines are March 31 and July 31. For more information, visit ht www.nkdf.org. For information on past projects funded throughout the NKDF investment area, visit http://www.nkdf. org/projects.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
New firefighting equipment is coming thanks to new provincial funding for the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and Mackenzie.
Hospital district board sets 2025 operating budget
purchases.
The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District board approved a 2025 operating budget at its Thursday, March 20 meeting featuring a total tax requisition of $23,405,530 — a 4.9 per cent increase compared to the 2024 budget.
It’s the first budget since directors decided last year to cap the district’s contribution to capital projects and equipment purchases to 21.625 per cent compared to the previous 40 per cent.
At the hospital district board’s February meeting, Northern Health representatives said that the cap could force the health authority to have to decide whether some projects can proceed at all.
Director Brian Skakun (City of Prince George) said he went back and looked over the discussion in the legislature when the hospital district boards were first established and there was only talk over capital expenses, not equipment
He said he wondered whether the board had standing to refuse financial contributions to things like lunchroom purchased and that other regional hospital districts are facing similar scenarios.
CAO Chris Calder said the equipment issue has come up before in discussions with Northern Health.
“I do think that over the history of hospital districts, in that time we’ve enhanced the amount of medical equipment that’s needed to run these hospitals that probably wasn’t something considered at the time,” Calder said.
“But I think we have the ability to push back on the different segments of the projects knowing that equipment is a large chunk for the health authority. We are building the new acute care tower and contributing to that, but new facilities aren’t happening all the time.”
Director Cori Ramsay (City of Prince George), the first vice-president of the Union of BC Municipalities, said that
organization is currently working on a list of priorities for its upcoming advocacy days and she and Village of Fraser Lake Mayor Sarrah Storey have been lobbying for this item’s inclusion.
Director Victor Mobley (Salmon River-Lakes) asked about the tax impact of the $125 million loan for the district’s contribution towards the new University Hospital of Northern BC acute care tower expected to come on the books in 2029.
It will be around a 2.6 per cent impact on taxes for the first 15 or more years of the 30-year loan, with rates potentially declining afterwards, said Sarah White, general manager of financial services.
She said staff are working on smoothing out requisition increases as much as possible to meet the demands of the debt servicing payments when they start.
Mobley said he was worried about the district’s spending on interest in recent years, which will place costs on future generations.
Calder chimed in to say that there
will be an anticipated reserve balance of around $96 million in 2029, which can be used as a sort of down payment towards the debt servicing.
Unlike with retail finance, Ramsay said that because local governments borrow money from the Municipal Finance Authority, their interest rates are lower than deposit rates.
“So, it is actually irresponsible not to borrow funds,” she said. “If we were to take money out of reserves, we’re going to miss out on significant amounts of interest that help us compound to pay for future infrastructure and sometimes the difference can be several percentages.”
Director Art Kaehn (Woodpecker-Hixon) was the only member of the board to vote against the bylaw establishing the budget.
At the February meeting, he had expressed concern about the impacts of the spending cap and the projects that would have to be shelved because of it.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
What’s happening in PG
Miracle Theatre Presents Lunenburg and Here on the Flight Path by Norm Foster from March 27 to April 23 at ArtSpace, above Books and Co. All proceeds from the shows will be donated to the Prince George Seniors Emergency Endowment Fund at the Prince George Community Foundation to help seniors in need meet essential expenses through the Prince George Council of Seniors Resource Centre. Tickets are at Books & Co., 1685 Third Avenue or by calling 250-563-6637.
Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum celebrates Spring Break until March 28 with free admission and kids’ activities. Hop on the Cottonwood Minirail starting at 11:30. Ticket are $4 each. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
JCI Prince George Kickoff goes Friday, March 28 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Prince George Chamber board room, 102-1584 Seventh Ave. Junior Chamber International provides leadership development opportunities that empower young people between 18 & 40 years old to create positive change. JCI helps young professionals grow, lead, and make an impact in their communities. Tor register for the event visit https://business.pgchamber.bc.ca/ jcievent.
Improv Shmimprov Brighten Your Day goes Saturday March 29 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Brightening up your beautiful March evening, with a glorious evening of improvised theatre. There’s a host of new games that will be played out for your amusement. As always, there’s snacks and drinkie drinks so bring your significant other and have some laughs. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Tickets are $20 at www.shmimprovimprov. ca/brightenyourday.
Night at the Hart, Kick Cabin Fever goes Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. at the Hart Centre Mall, 3831 West Austin Rd. Get ready to paint, socialize and enjoy a glass of wine. First 20 ticket holders receive a free cactus and potting soil. Don’t miss out on the chance to shake
off those winter blues and have a blast. Every ticket purchased has a chance to win some pretty awesome door prizes. Limited seats, $35 advanced ticket sales end on March 22. Follow on Facebook for more information at www.facebook. com/HartCentreMall.
Willow River Farmers Market presents the Spring Market on Sunday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ferndale Hall, 3595 Upper Fraser. Come and support local vendors. There’s a concession, too.
OK Dope presents Dan Duvall and Emily Woods Live on Tuesday, April 1 at 8 p.m. at Trench Brewing, 399 Second Ave. Duvall is a comedian who has performed across Canada, the U.S. and Europe including at Just For Laughs Vancouver, CBC’s LOL, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival while Woods is known for silly confessional storytelling, crowd work and hosting. Woods was featured on the 2022 Just For Laughs Originals album, is a regular host at Hecklers Comedy Club in Victoria and headlines comedy clubs across Canada. Tickets are $35 each at www.jumpcomedy. com/e/ok-dope-presents-dan-duvall-andemily-woods-live.
they wasted no time crafting a set list of all original tunes. Their individual styles are eclectic, adding a dynamic edge. On stage there is no doubt that these four friends are in their happy place, so come see what all the fuss is about. Scribbens is a local favourite, bringing their own approach to the post-punk genre that borders on prog. Music For $15 tickets visitwww.madloon.ca/ tickets.
Ranunculus Workshop goes Saturday, April 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Studio 2800, 2880-15th Ave. Join Lisa from Wildflower Farm to learn how to grow ranunculus and receive six corms to take home. The workshop is $20 per person and pre-registration is now open. Contact Lisa at 250 961 3519 or wildflowerfarmpg@hotmail.com.
Spring Fling Alice in Wonderland Variety Show presented by the Queer Connection Society goes Saturday, April 5 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ignite Nightclub, 1232 Third Ave. Step through the looking glass and into a world of wonder, whimsy, and fantastical entertainment. Ignite transforms into a Mad Hatter’s dream, where reality bends and time races into a curiouser and curiouser landscape of play. Mesmerizing performances include belly dancers, drag artists, Legends Live tribute acts, gravity-defying pole dancers, burlesque performers. Dress up if you would like to embrace the Wonderland theme. There is a themed photo booth and interactive surprises. Tickets: Member Pre-Sale: $20 (Members, check your email for your promo code.) Regular Pre-Sale: $25, at the door: $30 (if not sold out) Tickets at www.eventbrite.ca/e/2025-spring-flingvariety-show-tickets.
No Big D album release show with Scribbens goes Saturday, April 5 at 9 p.m. at Legion 43 PG, 1110 Sixth Ave. Brand new album from Quesnel-based all-femme post punk garage rockers. With multiple songwriters sharing vocal duties and a collaborative approach,
Rang de 2025 – Holi Celebration goes Saturday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carrie Jane Gray Park. Get ready for an explosive celebration of colours, music, and joy as Holi is celebrated like never before. There will be a Bollywood DJ, feel the beat and hit the open dance floor, flash mob dancers – surprise performances that will get you grooving. Organic Holi colours provided – safe, vibrant, and fun for all. Delicious food & refreshing drinks. Come in white and leave covered in colour. Join the biggest Holi bash in town, dance, throw colours, and make unforgettable memories. Tickets are $10 each and children 10 and under are free. For tickets visit www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/ rang-de-2025-holi-celebration-in-princegeorge.
Hop into Spring Décor Display Class goes Sunday, April 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Studio 2880, 2880-15th Ave. Create a design featuring two wooden bunnies and a 5×7 double sided box frame sign. The set also comes with a beaded tag and a riser. If you bring children, two per adult, they get assorted fake eggs to decorate, while you create your masterpiece. $50 per adult, $10 per child. Pre-registration required by etransfer to cindy@repurposewithcindy.ca.
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Quesnel rock band No Big D releases a new album Saturday, April 5 at 9 p.m. at Legion 43 PG, 1110 Sixth Ave.
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Annual Pruning Clinic goes Sunday, April 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Art Knapp Plantland Home & Garden, 4411 Kimball Road. Sharpen your gardening skills at our Annual Pruning Clinic hosted by expert gardeners Jos and Harry. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to master the art of pruning to ensure their plants are healthy, wellshaped, and productive. Workshop is free - donations welcome for Special Olympics Prince George. For more information and to register visit www. artknappspg.com/events.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Back in Overdrive goes Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at CN Centre. Join Randy Bachman, Tal Bachman, and the rest of the band for this rockin’ show, along with special guests April Wine and Headpins. The band will also play hits from The Guess Who, the iconic rock group which Bachman co-founded with Burton Cummings. Tickets are at https://www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ back-in-overdrive-2025/
YEG Exotic Plant Crowd, Rare Plant Show goes Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 5375 Woodoak Crescent. Green Goddess is hosting this even in their showroom for everyone who enjoys rare plants. For more information visit www.yegexoticplantcrowd. ca.
Spruce City Wildlife Association
Banquet and Fundraiser goes Saturday, April 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the RollA-Dome. Enjoy a wild game buffet featuring delicious dishes like cougar, bear, lynx, elk, moose, and more all catered by the amazing White Goose Bistro. There will be fundraising games and silent auction items including quad & side-by-side rentals, fishing charter, helicopter ride and flights, Skykamp Mini 2.0 rooftop tent and more. Tickets are $100 and support conservation in the Omineca Region. To purchase tickets in person visit SCWA hatchery at 1384 River Road on Saturday, March 15 from 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, March 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. or Tuesday, March 18 from 7 to 9
p.m. Cash is preferred as there will be a small surcharge for debit or credit. Tickets are also available online at https:// scwa.bc.ca/2025-banquet-tickets/.
Easter Event goes Saturday, April 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event is hosted by Buckhorn Rec and Buckhorn Elementary school at PG Snowmobile Club, 12000 Scott Road. There is a full day of fun-filled activities planned for the whole family including an Easter egg hunt, colouring contest and a full concession stand, cash only. There is a silent auction with proceeds going to the school’s year end trip. Easter Bunny will make an appearance.
Messiah Sing Along goes Saturday, April 19 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. PG Cantata Singers invites you to join in the sing along of Handel’s timeless masterpiece, Messiah. This event is by donation. Come early to ensure a seat. To practice ahead of time visit www. mediafire.com/Messiah.
Heroic Steps 5K Fundraising Run goes Saturday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Run/walk/hop/skip to raise
money and awareness for COPD and the BC Lung Foundation. Starting at the bandshell participants can do two loops throughout the park and the Millar addition neighborhood. Registration/donation is $20. For more information and to register visit https://secure3.convio.net/bclung/site/ TR?fr_id=1140&pg=entry.
Prince George Mixed 55+ Slopitch League 2025 with practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon from about May 13 to Aug. 12. A group of players is looking to put together a team for the 55+ BC Games this year. Format is seven men and at least three women 55+. Registration is April 28, 29 & 30 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club from 1 to 4 p.m. $75 per player, cash only. For more information call Jackie Burns at 250-962-9230.
BC Old Time Fiddlers’ Jams and Lessons go every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Everyone is welcome to attend. Drop-in fee is $5 at the door.
Games Night goes every Thursday at 7 p.m at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Come on down and
join in a game of backgammon, checkers, crib or better yet try out the pool table or dart board, please bring your own darts. Open to everyone for a $5 drop in fee.
Craft & Chat at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor, where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is held in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest. 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. 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
The Cottonwood Express, seen here during a sunny Summerfest ride, will be ready for passengers when the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum celebrates Spring Break.
Local designer dresses Kym Gouchie for the Juno Awards
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
Acclaimed Indigenous singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie has been nominated for a 2025 Juno Award in the Children’s Album of the Year category for her latest album, Shun Beh Nats’ujeh/We Are Healing Through Songs.
Thrilled at the prospect and knowing she would attend the main event at Rogers Arena in Vancouver — the televised awards ceremony on Sunday, March 30 — and the Juno Junior presented by CBC Kids on Saturday, March 29, at the Vancouver Art Gallery, where her category and about 40 others will be awarded, Gouchie quickly realized she needed to represent not only through her music but also through her attire.
Gouchie posted a call on social media, asking artists to reach out to help with her wardrobe, specifically seeking pieces that would hold meaning and space while honouring her Indigenous heritage.
“I got a flurry of messages from people,” Gouchie said. “But I just wasn’t feeling it. I wanted the person to be from Prince George. I wanted to be measured, try it on, and be present. Then my mind went to Tracy.”
Tracey Peters, someone Gouchie has known for years through the community, is a full-time Indigenous Education Worker at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary School, as well as a jingle dress dancer, singer, beader, and seamstress. Peters is Interior Salish — Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation in St’at’imc Territory and moved to Prince George with her family about 35 years ago.
“When Kym texted me,” Peters said, “and she asked me how I would feel about making her gown for the Junos, I was like, ‘What!? Oh my God! Yes! Wahoooo!’ It was awesome!”
And that’s when the hard work began. For the past 20 years, Gouchie has held on to a metres-long stretch of red satin, a remnant from a photoshoot that never happened. Gouchie said she didn’t know exactly why she had kept it all these years.
“And now here we are,” Gouchie smiled.
Digging that satin out of storage was the very first step in gathering the materials needed. And why make just one gown when ribbon skirts could be showcased at every event Gouchie would attend besides the live-streamed award ceremony and the televised show, such as the Juno Songwriters’ Circle, the Juno Honouring Ceremony, the Juno orange carpet fan zone, and the after party?
Peters was up for the challenge. For the gown and skirt-making collaboration, Gouchie and Peters met often, making decisions quickly as the Junos were only weeks away.
Luckily, spring break took place just before Gouchie headed to Vancouver for the awards, allowing Peters to focus
speaker because it’s something I did not grow up speaking. It was only as an adult that I learned the importance of language preservation.”
Gouchie, a proud member of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation with Secwépemc and Cree roots, has long been known for her powerful storytelling and soulful voice. She understands the risk of losing the Lheidli (Dakelh) language.
“I have the opportunity to preserve language in my music, in my art, and that’s what I’m doing,” Gouchie said.
“The gown and the other outfits I will be wearing are to honour and hold space for Indigenous culture, history, language, and identity. Having my gown made by an Indigenous person helps to keep that flow. To be able to use the colours I chose and not have to go find a dress inspired by someone else was important. I wanted it to reflect who I am and who Tracy is, so this is where we landed.”
Peters brought a variety of materials with her for meetings with Gouchie, including black on black on black in various textures and finishes, because that’s a Gouchie favourite.
solely on the artistry of creating the outfits.
“It’s been truly amazing and such an honour to make the gown and other outfits for Kym,” Peters said. “We always fight for our Indigenous people, but we don’t always get recognized in a good way, even if people understand what the generations before us have gone through. For us to be here, breaking the cycle and being recognized in a good way—it’s just awesome.”
Gouchie said that at times, her Juno nomination doesn’t feel real.
“This album is really special because I feel this one is not about me,” Gouchie said. “It’s really truly about everyone who has gone before me and those who are still yet to be because it’s so connected to language, culture, and history. I would never profess to be a language
There were printed patterns on satin, embroidered panels, a little pleather, sparkly ribbon, and so much colour that exploded onto the scene. Peters knew uniqueness had to be at the forefront, so she offered to incorporate the high-quality ribbon into every aspect of all the pieces of artwork Gouchie would wear.
For Peters, every step of the process was its own day-long event, including pressing the material to be used, cutting it to pattern specifications, serging it, pinning pieces together, and finally sewing the corset of the gown as the earliest foundation piece for the all-important fitting process.
The question had to be asked: How important is it to win the Juno?
“No matter what, I will be celebrating,” Gouchie said. “It will be the first line of my bio forever—whether it’s ‘Juno Award-winning artist Kym Gouchie’ or ‘JUNO-nominated artist Kym Gouchie’— it will be forever.”
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Kim Gouchie and seamstress Tracy Peters look at some of the laid-out panels of the Juno dress Peters is making for Gouchie to wear to the Juno Awards, where she’s nominated for Children’s Album of the Year.
Fishing charter company reels in accessibility award
Reel North was recognized for its inclusive fishing boat
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Jerry Daoust, owner-operator of Reel North Adventures, a Prince Georgebased fishing outfitter, has won in the Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Experience category at the BC Tourism Industry Awards held at a conference in Vancouver on March 6, 2025.
The win came as a surprise to Daoust, who didn’t expect to take home the award or be met with cheers from the crowd.
“It was really humbling and an honour to be nominated,” Daoust said. “We were nominated this year, but I didn’t know we were actually nominated until February, when we were shortlisted as one of the three final candidates. So, when they called our name, I was super surprised. It was really cool; I didn’t think we’d win.”
The award was presented in recognition of Daoust’s commitment to accessibility, particularly his construction and launch of British Columbia’s first wheelchair-accessible 20-foot flat-bottom fishing boat.
Daoust spoke to The Citizen about his motivations for making his business more accessible to people with disabilities.
“Our remote adventures aren’t really friendly for someone who may have a mobility limitation or for small children,” Daoust said.
“That was the motivation — how do we make it more inclusive for everyone? A lot of people say, ‘Oh, you built a wheelchair-accessible boat,’ but not really. It’s inclusive for everyone. That’s the whole point. We want to be able to take everyone out, and people who use wheelchairs are one of those demographics we can serve better now. But we just want people to know it’s not just for that group. It’s for everyone.”
One of the key reasons this unique boat won the award is its innovative
construction and support from local industry.
“We thought we’d have to develop something from scratch,” Daoust said. “Originally, we looked at fabricating a boat, and then through that process, I came across hunting utility boats built by companies like Crestliner. I thought, ‘Well, this is perfect.’ Those boats are built for hunting, but the needs of a hunter are very similar to those of someone who may have accessibility limitations or uses a wheelchair. They need stability, they need room. So, I ended up buying that base hull and then getting it fabricated with CCI Industries here in town. They developed a custom railing system and a ramp system that allows us to load someone who uses a wheelchair through a standard boat launch or even from a dock.”
The boat is a 20-foot Crestliner with an eight-foot casting deck and a 150-horsepower engine. Its weight provides stability, which Daoust noted is crucial for people with accessibility limitations.
The boat also features flotation pods at the rear to increase stability, and CCI Industries developed a custom railing system to facilitate easy access.
One of the primary challenges in construction, Daoust said, was the cost. However, he received support from the Enabling Accessibility Fund of Canada, Desjardins Bank of Canada, and CCI Industries’ labour.
Daoust has already conducted a few trial runs and a soft launch of the new boat, which received positive reviews.
“The reaction has been good,” Daoust said.
“We did a soft launch last year with Cole Carrera, who is a member of Spinal Cord BC and uses a chair, as well as Pat from Spinal Cord BC. We did three trips last year with great results. They both really liked it. They liked where it’s heading, and this year we’d like to do more.”
Finalists in the Inclusive & Accessible Tourism Experience category included Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours and the Vancouver Aquarium.
REEL NORTH ADVENTURES PHOTOS
Colton Carrita goes fishing during one of the test runs of Reel North’s new accessible boat, which earned the company a tourism award, accepted by owner/ operator Jerry Daoust (below).
Duchess Park Theatre Co. is off to see the Wizard
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
The Wizard of Oz, best known as the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, will be presented at Duchess Park Secondary School from April 8 to 12.
The iconic tale follows Dorothy and her little dog Toto, who are swept up in a tornado and find themselves in the Land of Oz. When Dorothy realizes what’s happened, she learns that her only chance to return home is to speak with the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City. Along the way, she encounters several characters, each seeking a little magic for themselves. The Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow join the adventure down the yellow brick road, while being challenged by the Wicked Witch of the West, who seeks vengeance for the death of her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, when Dorothy’s house lands on her.
“We knew it would be a challenge with its many sets and costumes, but it was important to give kids a chance to shine,” said Jackie Friesen, Duchess Park Theatre Company drama teacher. She co-directs the production with Shelby Meaney, the artistic director.
This Duchess Park Theatre Company production, while a musical, also offers comedic roles for students to explore their talents, such as the farm hands, Uncle Henry and Auntie Em, and the Wizard of Oz.
“Those are great roles for those who may not be super musically inclined, so we wanted to give those opportunities to more kids,” Friesen said.
“And when you look at some of our funniest roles, they’re the ones who don’t sing. We wanted to offer a variety of roles so that more students could shine. One of my favourite roles is the jitterbug, which is in a scene that was cut from the original 1939 film. The jitterbug is the creepy creature the Wicked Witch sends to go after the four leads. We have this amazing dancer, Ava Haight, Grade 10, who is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in this scene. She’s my lead snowflake, one of our crows, and she’s going to be en pointe on stage, so that scene will give her a
wonderful moment to shine.”
Friesen added that The Wizard of Oz,remains a classic for a reason.
“Even in 2025, don’t we all wish we could go somewhere over the rainbow where all our troubles melt like lemon drops? Haven’t we all had that moment when, like the Scarecrow, we didn’t think we were smart enough, like the Lion, we didn’t think we were brave enough, or like the Tin Man, we didn’t think we had the heart to do something? Or have that realization that ‘there’s no place like home’? There are so many themes that are still relevant in 2025. We wanted to bring something iconic, fun, and kidfriendly that the senior community will enjoy, too, as it’ll bring back memories of Judy Garland starring in the original film.”
In this production, two people share each lead role.
Kaylee Doyle, Grade 12, and Daysha Turner, Grade 9, are sharing the role of Dorothy.
Daysha, who was in last year’s production of The Addams Family, and Kaylee, a newcomer to the theatre scene, bring their own unique strengths to the role.
“It’s kind of interesting because the two Dorothys are working together, with the younger guiding the older,” Friesen said. “They’re working so well together, especially with the pressure of nailing the iconic song Over the Rainbow. Kaylee has never sung before, so she’s taking lessons, while Daysha has more of a musical background.”
“I’ve played sports in the past, so I thought I’d give theatre a try,” Kaylee said. “Miss Friesen hyped it up a lot, and my friend Sophia, who plays Glinda, talked about it too, so I thought maybe I could try it out.”
“Kaylee initially wanted to be part of the crew, then changed her mind and auditioned for a role. I thought, where has that talent been all these years?” Friesen laughed.
Kaylee enjoys being busy, which makes a role like this a good fit for her.
“I like being social, and I love singing –I sing a lot in the shower,” she smiled.
PLEASE SEE ‘OZ’ ON PAGE 29
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Daysha Turner, in ruby slippers second from the left, rehearses a scene from The Wizard of Oz with castmates. She’s one of two actresses playing Dorothy during the Duchess Park Theatre Company production of the classic story that will be onstage April 8 to 12 at Duchess Park Secondary School.
Rhythms of Haiti coming to Knox
Prince George is about to experience a unique fusion of Haitian roots music. The Coldsnap team is bringing Juno Award-winning artist Wesli to the Knox Performance Centre on April 25. Hailing from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wesli (Wesley Louissaint) has become a leading figure in world music, known for his dynamic blend of Haitian traditions with gospel, reggae, Afrobeat, funk, and more. This one-night-only event will see Wesli joined by his full band for an evening of storytelling and powerful music celebrating resilience and unity. The performance will take place at the Knox Performance Centre (1448 5th Ave) with doors opening at 7 p.m., and the show beginning at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets are available for $35 and can be purchased online
Oz comes to life on school stage
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But she was surprised by the amount of work that goes into the play and admits there have been some hiccups.
“There are some lines that no matter how many times I go over them, I just can’t get them right,” Kaylee said. Luckily, there’s still time to iron out the glitches.
“The best part is the social aspect. I get to spend time with my brother (who plays the Scarecrow) and my friends. Miss Friesen is like a mom to me, and Miss Meaney is like a fun auntie. It’s like a big family, and it’s so nice. I love it.”
Daysha, the other Dorothy, brought last year’s experience with her.
“Ever since I was young, I always wanted to perform,” Daysha said. “I did a lot of dancing when I was younger, and my dad sang a lot, so I grew up singing. In elementary school, I did my first play and thought, ‘This is really fun.’ Then, when I saw the theatre program here, I thought it sounded like fun, too.”
Daysha knew how much time and effort would go into this year’s production.
“And it’s kind of nice to have something to do,” she added.
Cast and crew agree on one major reason they join a production like this.
“The best part is connecting with so many people,” Daysha said.
“And getting the opportunities that the Theatre Company provides, which I don’t think I can get anywhere else. Plus, I get to be around my best friends all the time, dancing and singing, and having something to put my energy into.”
The Wizard of Oz runs from Tuesday, April 8, to Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a halfprice matinee on Saturday at 1 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.).
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, available at the office every day.
The school is closed during spring break and will reopen on April 1.
Beekeeping is a busy business in Prince George area
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Neil Hutt is a local beekeeper who operates the Bee Hutt Apiary with his wife, Sarita Parmar.
His business operates more than 100 hives between Prince George, Fraser Lake, and Vanderhoof, and sells its products locally.
Before Hutt’s retirement, he kept around 15 hives as a hobby. However, shortly after his retirement, he began adding to his collection, and with some help from the Prince George branch of the BC Honey Producers’ Association, he evolved his hobby into a full-time business.
“It depends on what you want out of it,” said Hutt. “I’d say from April to November, it’s very full-time. Then after they’ve been put away for the winter, if you want to grow your apiary, there’s lots of work that goes into building new hives.”
Hutt’s bees also produce a special kind of honey, one he describes as the “champagne” of honey.
“I stick them in the area north of Fort St. James, up by Takla Lake, because we found some fireweed up there,” said Hutt. “Fireweed honey is one of the most sought-after honeys; it’s often called the champagne of honey. If you Google it, it’s often listed in the top ten lists for honeys across the world. It’s probably the lightest you’ll find and the mellowest and sweetest you’ll find.”
One advantage of his setup in Fort St. James is that its natural setting allows for a diverse diet for the bees, in addition to the fireweed, something that improves both the bees’ health and the quality of the honey.
“You can’t just stick it out in the field,” said Hutt. “Out there, there’s dandelions, clover, alfalfa, and all sorts of different nectar sources. You can find hills and mountainsides just covered — especially after these fires we’ve had — just covered in that pink and purple blossom. That’s the fireweed. I stick them out there and you’ve got to double bear-fence it because you’re out in the
middle of nowhere. The biggest concern out there is keeping bears out.”
Hutt is a huge advocate for bee health and wellness, not only because of his business but also due to environmental concerns.
“A third of our food would be non-existent without the honey bee. There are other pollinators out there, but the bees do almost all of it… I’ve read reports that if you lose the honey bees—just the honey bees, mind you—the Earth will lose 30 per cent of its food production. It’s catastrophic to lose 5 per cent of it, let alone a third.”
Currently, Hutt’s biggest challenge when it comes to maintaining his business and its hives is preventing disease and protecting the bees’ health.
“Well, I think the biggest challenge and the biggest issue with them right now is the Varroa mites,” said Hutt. “That was introduced in 1984 and it came over. It wasn’t always present
Hutt told The Citizen that the Prince George Beekeepers’ Association is instrumental in providing early advice and assistance to newcomers.
“It’s led by a group of good people,” said Hutt. “There’s something that I’ve noticed in beekeeping, and beekeepers — not just in Prince George, but everywhere — they’re a very giving community. As far as giving information, nobody’s out there trying to outdo the other. It just seems to me that they’re here to help. You could phone any beekeeper with a question and they’re going to give you an answer that they think is best based on their knowledge. There’s no rivalry. There’s no hidden agenda or anything. It’s kind of neat.”
Just in case you were wondering, yes, Hutt does get stung … a lot.
in the Western honeybee. It crossed over from the Sierra honeybee and was brought over to North America. The mites themselves don’t kill the bees, but they weaken them to the extent that they can’t fight the other viruses, parasites, and diseases that honeybees often fight against. They can’t fight them anymore, and it just wipes out hives. That’s probably the biggest challenge.”
Another key issue facing honeybees, Hutt mentioned, is monoculture, where swaths of fields reduce the honeybee’s pollination options to just one plant. Hutt likens it to eating steak and eggs every day; it might be alright in the short term, but you’ll start to see a drastic change the longer you keep up the habit.
Beekeeping does have a steep learning curve. Many newcomers struggle with maintaining the health and honey production of a few hives, let alone more than 100.
“Even when you’re wearing a bee suit,” said Hutt. “They aren’t foolproof, and it’s not that they even get inside the suit. What happens is you work, and let’s say it’s hot out, so you’re wearing a T-shirt or just a regular shirt, and you’re bending over. The suit is tied against your skin, so they can sting through the suit. And lots of times the veil will get pressed up against your face and then you get stung on your nose. If I had to guess, I get stung 50 to 60 times a year.”
Hutt is a big supporter of local businesses and local products, so much so that he has a unique boycott in place.
“I was getting my queen bees from Kona in the U.S., but I’m not going to do that anymore,” said Hutt. “I’m not buying from the U.S. as much as I can. They’re good queens, but I’m not going to buy from the U.S. anymore. I was thinking of maybe buying queens from Chile.”
Bee Hutt Apiary currently offers its products in 12, soon-to-be 14, retail locations in Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James and Burns Lake. They will also soon be adding Alberta to the list of locations.
Their products include liquid and creamed honey, specialty honey, beeswax candles, bath salts, and chapsticks/ lip balms, among others.
For more information, visit their Facebook page.
BEE HUTT APIARY PHOTO
Neil Hutt wears a protective bee suit while checking on his home hives.
Throwback Thursday: Week of March 27
March 27, 1973: No, it isn’t Venice. But the residents of Alderwood Court in the Nechako Improvement District could probably use a few boats to get around their neighbourhood after recent warm weather turned snowpacks into puddles. The residents weren’t happy, but as one pointed out, ‘If the water doesn’t go down by summer, maybe we’ll just stock the street with trout.’
29, 1993:
March 25, 1959: The 68-piece Vancouver Symphony Orchestra arrived in Prince George aboard a chartered aircraft to perform three concerts. Gerry Wilmont, left, concert co-ordinator for the Prince George Concert Association, met symphony manager Ian Dobbin and famed conductor Irwin Hoffman at the airport. CPA manager Earl Brown is in the background. The symphony, which had flown in from Quesnel, flew back to Vancouver that night after the 1 p.m., 2:10 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. performances. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
March 25, 2011: Willy and Maria Polanin were among the local residents who stopped for a look at a 1:400 scale model of the revitalized BC Place that was set up at Pine Centre Mall. With an audio-visual display to accompany it, the model was on a tour of the province in advance of the re-opening of the stadium. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVID MAH
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY MIKE RIMMER
March
Kelly Road student Sandra Gillett and Duchess Park student Broek Bosma question former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbechev via video while he was on a visit to Science World in Vancouver. The students were selected from among 100 entries from 33 BC schools.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MILNE
Healthy North
UHNBC Acute Care tower
People in Northern BC will soon have better access to healthcare at the University Hospital of Northern BC. When completed, the new 11-story acute care tower will more than double the number of beds available for cardiac, mental health and substance use, and surgical services. Visit our Let’s Talk site for weekly updates and subscribe to get the latest news and milestones. https://letstalk.northernhealth.ca/
New UHNBC Parkade
Progress in action! Check out the latest photo from the parkade construction site, part of the first phase of the acute care tower project. This addition is crucial to ensure we have enough parking for both staff and patients as the project progresses.
Learn more about this state-of-the-art project on our Let’s Talk site and subscribe to get the latest news and milestones. https://letstalk.northernhealth.ca/uhnbc
Enhanced health care access coming to Northern BC
EMILY PRESTMO
Northern Health
Exciting news for Northern BC! Residents will soon enjoy better access to health care services at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC).
Nestled on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, this $1.66 billion project includes a state-of-the-art acute care tower to boost services for Northerners.
With an aging population and an expected 20 per cent population increase in the Northern Health coverage area over the next two decades, this expansion is a game-changer.
The first phase of the Acute Care Tower Project kicks off with the construction of a 471-stall parkade next to the BC Cancer Centre for the North.
This addition is important to ensure we have enough parking for both staff and patients as the project moves forward. The new parkade will make visiting UHNBC easier, enhancing accessibility and convenience for everyone.
To give you a sense of the parkade’s scale, here are some comparisons:
• 188,000 gross square feet of building area: Enough space to fit approximately 1.3 Charles Jago Northern Sport Centres (athletics facility at UNBC).
• 8,200 square metres of concrete:
Picture filling about 1,154,286 extra large Tim Hortons coffee cups with concrete.
• 32,000 square metres of concrete formwork: This could cover the entire surface area of the ice rink at CN Centre in Prince George about 50 times.
• 1,000,000 kg of reinforcing steel: That’s roughly the same weight
as 5,195 Canadian black bears.
• 240 m of new electrical duct bank: Equivalent to the length of four of Canada’s Longest Fishing Rods monuments (located in Houston, BC).
• 30,000 L storm tank: This tank could hold about 30,000 standard grocery store jugs of maple syrup.
• 22 continuous flight auger (CFA) piles: Laid end to end, this would stretch about the length of 85 Canadian moose lined up in a row.
• 57,000 hours worked (as of January 31, 2025): That’s like watching 22,800 Prince George Cougars hockey games (including Zamboni time).
Nurse practitioners are expanding the delivery of care
There are five now working in Fort St. John
well, with completion anticipated by fall 2025. HEATHER
In the community of Fort St. John, there are five nurse practitioners (NP) who support primary and acute care services alongside a supportive group of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.
Shannon McRae works in the Fort St. John Family Practice Associates clinic while Brody McGee, Raelene Marceau,
Jessalyn Moskalyk, and Mikaela Pond work at the Fort St. John Primary Care Clinic.
Not all nursing careers look the same and each NP brings a unique knowledge and skill set based on their own history, training, and experience.
When asked what she considered to be the most important skill for an NP, Moskalyk explained, “Recognizing the value you bring to the table from your experiences as a registered nurse. There is so much learned from the years of working with people that is not reproducible in formal education. Value those experiences,
reflect on how they have shaped you, and use them to build on your own practice.”
NPs are registered nurses that complete additional education (Master’s Degree Nurse Practitioner) and experience, and who provide medical care in a variety of clinical care settings.
They can diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medications, order tests, and refer patients to specialists.
They work independently and provide care to patients of all ages.
Moskalyk and McRae agree that while
becoming an NP was challenging, they both have the same advice to anyone thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner: “Do It!”
Nurse practitioners care for patients throughout their lifetime and are supporting the growing demand for primary care services.
Through the Health Connect Registry, patients in Fort St. John who need a primary care provider can be attached to a nurse practitioner.
Interested in learning more about the NP portfolio in Northern Health? Contact us at NHANursePractitioners@ northernhealth.ca
NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTOS
People in Northern BC will soon have better access to both parking and health care at UHNBC. Construction on the new parkade is progressing
Local Sports
Cougars ready for rematch with Portland
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
It’s that time of year again in the Western Hockey League, and the Prince George Cougars are preparing for a familiar foe.
For the third consecutive season, they face the Portland Winterhawks — this time in a first-round showdown.
The last time the Winterhawks visited CN Centre for a playoff game, it didn’t end kindly for the Cougars. Josh Davies ended the longest game in franchise history when he scored 5:40 into the second overtime period, sealing a 2-1 victory and ending the Cougars’ season in Game 6 of the Western Conference final.
The game-winner came moments after Cougars sniper Borya Valis was denied hero status. He had a point-blank setup for Zac Funk, but Winterhawks defenceman Tyson Jugnauth blocked the shot with his leg.
That game still burns in the minds of the Cougars, and they’re eager to reverse the trend and finally shake that Portland monkey off their backs.
Riley Heidt, Koehn Ziemmer, Bauer Dumanski, and Viliam Kmec got their first taste of WHL playoff action three years ago when Portland swept them in the first round. Nine current Cougars players also experienced the heartbreak of last year’s series loss to the Winterhawks.
The Cougars (41-21-4-2) wrapped up the regular season fourth in the Western Conference with 88 points, 12 ahead of the fifth-place Winterhawks (36-22-8-3), and are entering the playoffs having won 11 of their last 12 games. In what is almost certainly his last junior season, Minnesota Wild draft pick Riley Heidt (31-59-90) established new career records for assists (254) and points (370) in Prince George. His 116 career goals are just 12 shy of the new all-time mark set by Ziemmer this
Cougars forward Riley Heidt hits Royals forward Nolan Stewart hard enough to up end him, taking a penalty for his efforts during the last regular-season game of the WHL season Saturday, March 22 at the CN Centre.
season. The 19-year-old Cougars captain wants to end his junior career on a high note, knowing the team has high expectations.
“A lot of guys are never going to be back here, and it’s emotional. We’ve been together a long time as a core group, and we’ve got nothing to save it for. We’re going to give it our best,” Heidt said.
“We’ve got home ice and we’re going to use that to our advantage, like we did all season. They’re a quick team with a lot of speed, and we just have to get on their defence and play them physically.”
The Cougars have nine players back from last year’s squad, and Portland has 10 returnees from the team that made
it to the WHL final, where they lost to Moose Jaw in four games.
“What you look back on as a player is your experience in playoff games, and we have a lot of experience on our team,” said Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb. “Three years ago, we didn’t have any. Now, we’re a veteran team with playoff experience.”
“I like our team; it’s a real good group. When we’re playing our game, we’re a tough team to beat. We’ve got a lot of good pieces on the team, we arguably have the best goalie in the league (Josh Ravensbergen), and that’s a pretty good start. We’ve got Heidt, Ziemmer, Kmec on the back end — we’ve got a lot of
good pieces heading into the playoffs.”
Portland won all four games in the regular season against Prince George, with the Cougars coming away with only two points — one from an overtime loss and one from a shootout. Cougar fans will remember a 5-4 shootout loss on Oct. 9 at CN Centre, in which the Winterhawks rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the third period to force overtime.
Neither team is putting much stock in the regular season. The playoffs are what matters.
“The rivalry is real because we’ve played them three of the last four years,” said Lamb.
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Winterhawks defeated PG in last year’s conference final
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“Team-wise, what happened in the regular season doesn’t mean anything. You’ve got to prepare for the Portland Winterhawks now.”
“They haven’t changed the way they play. They’re a rush team, an offensive team, and they come at you really hard. They’re going to be a tough opponent for us, and we’re going to be a tough opponent for them.”
The season series started with a 3-2 Cougars loss on Oct. 5 in Portland, followed by a 4-3 overtime loss on Oct. 8 at CN Centre. In their most recent meeting on Dec. 13 in Portland, the Winterhawks won 4-1, with Josh Zakreski scoring a hat trick.
“We’re well aware they didn’t have their full lineup for a lot of those games,” said Winterhawks general manager Mike Johnston, who handed over coaching duties to longtime assistant Kyle Gustafson last summer after 13 seasons.
“I do like that we’ve been pretty consistent all year, our group. Special teams will be important, as always, in the playoffs. Injuries play a big part as you move along, and I think experience will be key. Some of our older guys, like Kyle Chyzowski (38 career playoff games) and Ryder Thompson (38), have good playoff experience, and hopefully they can lead the way.”
Jugnauth, a fourth-round pick of the Seattle Kraken in 2022, is the star on the Winterhawks’ blue line.
He finished second in team scoring with 13 goals and 76 assists and led all WHL defencemen with 89 points. D Carter Sotheran, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, had six goals and 33 points. Thompson (9-14-23) has been a rock of stability as a 20-year-old WHL veteran, missing only two games over the past two seasons. D Max Psenicka, 18, played pro in Czechia and was on the world junior team before joining Portland. Portland’s offensive firepower remains potent this year. Chyzowski led the team with 41 goals and 105 points, doubling his production from the previous year and finishing fourth in
the WHL scoring race. C Diego Buttazzoni (38-39-77) and Zakreski (39-31-70) also had strong seasons, averaging more than a point per game. RW Alex Weiermair, a Los Angeles native who joined the Winterhawks in December from the University of Denver, scored 56 points in 41 games. LW Ryan Miller (16-15-31) doubled his point total in his second WHL season, earning top-line duties. Tyson Yaremko was on a similar trajectory before suffering a season-ending injury on Dec. 31.
C Joel Plante, 19, came over midseason from the Nanaimo Clippers, and Portland also boasts promising rookie forwards Jordan Duguay, Carsyn Dyck, Kayd Ruedig, Red Brown, and Fort St. James native David Hoy.
Portland’s goaltending features two rookies. 18-year-old Czech Ondrej Stebetak posted a 23-18-2-1 record with a 3.72 goals-against average and .891 save percentage, while 17-year-old Marek Schlenker of Okotoks, Alta., went 13-10-1-0 with a 3.70 GAA and .893 save percentage.
Ravensbergen, a highly touted NHL draft prospect, has lived up to expectations. The 18-year-old has been one of the league’s top goalies, posting a 3.00 GAA and .901 save percentage in 51 games. He finished the regular season without a shutout, an unusual stat after setting a WHL rookie record with six shutouts last season.
Cooper Michaluk, a trade acquisition from Regina, posted a 9-8-1-1 record
skills to create havoc in the offensive zone. Jett Lajoie (14-21-35), Matteo Danis (15-11-26), Lee Shurgot (7-18-25), Aiden Foster (11-9-20), and Evan Groening (5-11-16) provide secondary scoring for the Cougars.
On defence, Carson Carels (6-29-35) is rapidly improving and showing instincts that will make him a dominant defenceman in the future. He and rookie Russian import Arseni Anisimov have benefitted from the guidance of veteran blueliners Dumanski, Kmec, Alexey Chichkin, and Corbin Vaughan.
with a 3.48 GAA and .885 save percentage. He earned his first WHL shutout with a 3-0 win over Seattle at CN Centre on Jan. 4.
Junior hockey teams are measured by their ability to develop players for the next level, and the Cougars have done well in that area.
Right-winger Valis and defenceman Kmec, both undrafted, signed NHL contracts this season. Kmec, who impressed at the Vegas Golden Knights camp, signed with Vegas in September. Valis joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in March. Kmec (18-43-61) finished sixth in scoring among WHL defencemen and led all Cougars with a plus-43 rating.
Valis has become a go-to player in any situation. His offensive numbers (3446-80) rank third on the team, behind Heidt and Washington Capitals firstround pick Terik Parascak (28-54-82).
Parascak, a key piece of the Cougars’ attack, is a concern heading into the playoffs after suffering a concussion in Everett that sidelined him for the last five games.
Ziemmer, drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2023, has recovered well from a broken leg and led the Cougars with 37 goals, finishing with 71 points in his final junior season.
The Winterhawks also need to be wary of C Ben Riche (33-41-74), who was acquired midseason from Saskatoon. Despite being slowed by an upper-body injury in February, Riche remains one of the league’s fastest skaters with the
“I’m excited. The last couple of years have been great for this group in the postseason,” said Vaughan, acquired from Regina on Dec. 9. “It’s been a great experience so far, with great teammates and a lot of support from the city of Prince George. That’s probably the most important thing.”
Due to the long distance between cities (1,172 km, 13 hours), the first two games of the best-of-seven series will be in Prince George on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.). Games 3 and 4 will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday in Portland, and the Winterhawks will also host Game 5 on Friday, if necessary. Games 6 and 7 are scheduled for CN Centre on Sunday, April 6, and Monday, April 7.
The Cougars’ playoff journey began last Friday with a 6-3 loss to Victoria, a defeat that dashed their hopes of playing for the BC Division title the following night.
The Royals claimed the second seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round matchup with the Tri-City Americans.
While Cougars fans may have preferred a matchup with Tri-City, knowing their team has a better track record against the Americans and the shorter bus ride would have been preferable, they’ll be looking at this series as a chance for revenge against Portland, especially in the postseason.
It’s sure to be a tight series, but this could be the Cougars’ time to finally exorcize those demons.
Prediction: Cougars in seven.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Prince George Cougars goalie Josh Ravensbergen blocks a shot from Portland Winterhawks forward Marcus Nguyen during the 2024 Western Conference final at the CN Centre last May. The teams face off again to open the 2025 playoffs.
Rockets’ ricochet ends Cariboo Cougars’ thrilling run
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Was it in or wasn’t it?
Hudson Getzlaf needed no convincing when he saw the puck ricochet in and out of the top corner of the net behind goalie Jaxson Dikur 4:26 into overtime to decide the BC Elite Hockey League U18 championship.
While his Okanagan Rockets teammates swarmed the left winger in celebration of their 3-2 victory, tossing gloves and helmets to the ice Sunday at Kin 1, the Cariboo Cougars, shocked and stunned by what had just happened, hoped a replay would grant them a reprieve and allow them to continue playing for the provincial title.
But the goal — which bulged the net, according to witnesses in close proximity — counted, and the Rockets are off to the Pacific regional playoffs as B.C. champions.
“It was just a good tip from Nathan Juch there, got us up on a 2-on-1, and I saw the top corner was open and just knifed it,” said Getzlaf. “I know it went in for sure.
“This feels amazing, I’ve never had a feeling this good.”
The 16-year-old from Kelowna is a first cousin of soon-to-be Hockey Hall of Fame forward Ryan Getzlaf. Now, Hudson has a provincial championship game-winner to brag about the next time he sees him at a family reunion.
“That was a hard-fought battle. For both teams, it was a war, and I’m proud of the team that we came out on top,” said Rockets captain Logan Jugnauth. “I was right there (on the ice when Getzlaf scored), and you just black out. I didn’t think the puck went in at the start — it came out really fast — but the ref called it a goal and we won.”
The play that won it started at the Okanagan blue line. Cariboo defenceman Carson Brookes was late joining the play from centre ice and rushed in to try to keep the puck in at the blue line. Juch got to it first, chipped it ahead to spring Getzlaf free, and he buried the only Grade-A chance of overtime.
“It was a war all the way, losing Dion
(Schraeder), our top goal scorer, and the players just rallied around him,” said Rockets head coach Eric Blais. “We played gutsy hockey, that’s a very good hockey team, and we got a couple of bounces. That’s hockey. Some players just step up. We made a lucky play at the blue line, the guy missed it, and we went in. It was a helluva series.”
The Rockets got themselves in penalty trouble midway through the second period, starting when Kylen Martens was sent off for a double minor for making head contact. About a minute later, while killing the penalty, Rockets forward Schraeder went knee-on-knee with Cariboo defenceman Ben Fofonoff, and the Williams Lake product took the worst of it. He went down writhing in pain and had to be helped off the ice, while Schraeder, who finished second in the league scoring race, was banished to the dressing room after receiving a major penalty and game misconduct.
That gave the Cougars five full minutes of power-play time and nearly three minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage. The near-full-house crowd of about 700 couldn’t help but anticipate fireworks, but the Cats could not light the fuse.
The Rockets’ penalty killers blocked shots, kept sticks in the passing lanes and formed a wall around goalie Finn McKiernan to clear out any rebounds.
The Cougars fumbled passes and had a difficult time getting their shots through, managing just one or two quality shots on goal in that extended power play.
Twenty-seven seconds after Okanagan returned to even strength, the Cougars finally got what they were after. Blake Collison fed a slot pass to linemate Miller Tedesco, and he fired it away with a low shot for a 2-1 lead at the 17:27 mark.
But with less than a minute left in the period, after winning the draw in the Cariboo end, the puck came to Okanagan’s 16-year-old centre Hayden Laing. He turned and fired a low shot that found its way in to even the score.
The Rockets won the first game of the best-of-three series 4-2 on Friday, and the Cougars took Game 2 Saturday, also by a 4-2 score.
The Cougars got the quick start they were looking for Sunday and opened the scoring 8:34 in. Smithers product Ryan Richter led the rush and took the puck deep. Nicholas Gordon took the pass in the slot, stickhandled the puck a couple of times before tucking in a low wrister to the short side behind McKiernan.
Late in the period, Cougars’ Miller Tedesco had just stepped out of the penalty box when Rockets defenceman Martens unloaded a shot that ticked off the blade of Cariboo d-man Josh
Gendron between the legs of goalie Dikur to tie it up 1-1.
The Cougars outshot the Rockets 36-29.
Cougars head coach Tyler Brough called it the toughest loss he’s suffered in his 10 years as Cougars head coach.
“It’s unfortunate, we had plenty of opportunities to put them away and we didn’t, and that’s what can happen when you let teams hang around,” said Brough. “Hopefully, the guys that are moving on learn from it, and the guys who are coming back have that in their belly and just remember it.
“At the start of the year, we knew we had a solid group and there was a lot of structure and systems we needed to put in place. We had great leadership passed on from the group last year, and they had that burning desire in them from the way they went down last year (losing in a three-game semifinal to Vancouver North East Chiefs).
“It’s a solid group in there that we believed we could win it all, not only our league but moving on. Our goal was the Telus Cup, and everything short of that is very disheartening and a letdown. That’s because the group is so strong, and they believe in each other. It’s tough.”
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
The jubilant Okanagan Rockets gather around the trophy celebrating their 3-2 overtime win over the Cariboo Cougars Sunday, March 23 at Kin 1. At right is Hudson Getzlaf (No. 20), who fired the winning goal 4:26 into OT.
Special Olympics athletes compete in Kelowna
The Prince George Special Olympics floorball team poses for a photo with former NHLer Carey Price during a tournament they attended in Kelowna on March 15. Floorball is a new sport introduced to Special Olympics athletes that is played in a gym with specialized lightweight sticks and ball. Teams from Kelowna, Quesnel and Prince George spent the day in round-robin play. The scores were close, with Prince George winning three games and losing two. SUBMITTED
Okanagan moves on to Pacific final
and it’s going to sting for a while, but you’ve got to move on eventually.
Captain Grady Gustafson and assistant captain Jack Tidsbury had a hard time coming to terms with playing what was their last game as Cariboo Cougars, while their teary-eyed teammates wandered out from the dressing room into the concourse still dressed in their jerseys, receiving hugs from family members.
“I’m lost for words, this is an incredible group and we deserved better,” said Gustafson. “It’s a terrible way to lose a championship game on a missed call, but you’ve got to look in the past and just think about how much good this team did and brought for us.”
Tidsbury said the game swung on the missed opportunities the Cougars had during that second-period power play.
“I’ve got to give kudos to their goalie (McKiernan), he played unreal and saved a lot of our shots, we just couldn’t find a way to get it past him,” said Tidsbury. “This is my fifth year with Cariboo
“I was confident heading into over time, we dominated 5-on-5, it felt like, and it was a lucky 2-on-1. That’s what happens.”
The Rockets are the youngest team in the BCEHL U18 division, and surviving a nail-biting series with Cariboo and beating them in their own barn bodes well for their next playoff challenge coming early next month. Fourteen of the 20 Rockets are age-eligible to return next year.
“I didn’t expect us to be in this posi tion, to be honest. We’re very fortu nate,” said Blais, who won the provin cial title with the Rockets in 2023.
Okanagan will advance to the bestof-three Pacific regional championship, which starts April 5 in the home of the Alberta champions, either Calgary or Sherwood Park.
The Pacific winner will advance to the Telus Cup in Chilliwack, April 21-27.
PLAYOFFS
7PM FRIDAY MAR 28 VS 6PM SATURDAY MAR 29 VS CN CENTRE CN CENTRE
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS
Spruce Kings still in the race after weekend road trip
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
You have to hand it to the Prince George Spruce Kings.
They’re giving it their all to secure a spot in the BCHL playoffs.
On Sunday afternoon in Surrey, the Spruce Kings defeated the Surrey Eagles 6-1 to wrap up their three-game road trip with five of a possible six points, moving within three points of the Langley Rivermen for the final playoff spot in the Coastal Conference.
The Kings got an offensive spark from their fourth line — Cooper Williams, Aidan Carolan, and Corson Maguire. The trio opened the scoring five minutes into the second period and later added the sixth goal late in the game, with Williams scoring twice.
Carter Hesselgrave gave Prince George a 2-1 lead heading into the third period, but that advantage lasted only 23 seconds into the final frame when Gavin Roccha found the back of the net behind Kings goalie Charles-Edward Gravel.
Spruce Kings goalie Charles-Edward Gravel, shown in action against the Coquitlam Express on Feb. 7 at Kopar Memorial Arena, made 40 saves as the game’s first star on Friday, March 22 in Chilliwack, where the Kings lost 4-3 to the Chilliwack Chiefs in a shootout.
season record to 8-3.
The 20-year-old from Lévis, Que., ranks among the league’s top goalies, sporting a 1.95 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage since joining the Spruce Kings from the QMJHL in early February.
Sunday’s victory, combined with their 3-2 win on Friday in Coquitlam and a 4-3 shootout loss on Saturday in Chilliwack, improved the Spruce Kings’ record to 25-21-4-2.
With two games left in the season, the Spruce Kings and Rivermen are in a tight race.
Prince George will host Powell River in a two-game set at Kopar Memorial Arena on Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.), while Langley will host the Coquitlam Express on Friday before closing out the season Saturday against the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Ryan Wachtel and Brock Cummings — the latter on a Prince George power
The Kings survived an extended push from the Eagles and regained the momentum at 6:17 of the third when Nicolas Papineau scored his 11th of the season on a breakaway to make it 3-1.
play — also scored against Eagles goalie Aidan Fischer, and Williams capped the scoring with less than two minutes remaining.
Gravel made 29 saves to improve his
To overtake the Rivermen (21-22-81), the Spruce Kings will need to beat Powell River twice and hope Langley earns no more than a single point in its final two games. If both teams finish tied in points, Prince George would be awarded eighth place due to having more wins than Langley.
PG Track & Field Club takes 22 gold, 10 silver, 4 bronze
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen
Staff
During the first-ever BC Athletics Indoor Track and Field Championships that was added to the Van Ryswyk JD Indoor Invitational meet, the Prince George Track and Field Club (PGTF) was well-represented with 19 athletes competing, ranging in age from 11 to 80 years old earning 22 gold medals, 10 silver and four bronze.
The indoor track and field championships were held on March 7 and 8 and hosted by the Kamloops Track & Field Club at the Tournament Capital Centre. Athletes were in the Junior Development category as well as U16, U18, U20, Senior and Masters.
“I could not be happier with the
manner in which all of the athletes represented the club, both in terms of performance and character,” said Bryce Gladdish, PGTF club president.
Not only did the team bring home the hardware, they also experienced many personal best performances during the two-day event.
Here are the results for the Prince George Track and Field Club athletes:
• Tuomas Ukonmaanaho, 80, earned gold in the 60m, 200m, pole vault, high jump and silver in shot put
• Jack Bowler, 11, placed seventh in the 60m and ninth in the 200m
• Corbin Matthews, 11, took gold in 1000m, shot put and silver in long jump
• Xavier Gladdish, 14, took gold in 2000m, and silver in 800m and
2000m
• Isabelle Day, 15, took bronze in 60m hurdles and tenth in 60m
• Nic Scarpino, 15, took gold in 60m, 200m, long jump and shot put
• Madelin Standish, 15 took silver in shot put
• Ezra Livingstone, 16, had to pull out of the 800m and 1500m races
• Ava Matthews, 16, took bronze in pole vault
• Rachael Pruden, 16, took gold in shot put, bronze in long jump and high jump and fourth in 60m hurdles
• Kristian Richards, 16 took gold in 800m and 1500m and silver in the 3000m
• Abdul-Rachad Hien, 17, took silver in 60m
• Noah Gladdish, 18, took gold in the 3000m and 800m and silver in the 1500m
• Danae McCroy, 20, took gold in 60m, 200m and long jump
• Ronin Crespeigne, 21, took fourth in long jump, sixth in 200m, and 11th in 60m
• Jacob Wong, 21, took seventh place in 60m
• Quinn Matthews, 41, took gold in pole vault
• Christine Dalgleish, 61, took gold in shot put and weight throw
• Joan Harris, 62, took silver in shot put and weight throw
For more information about times and distances visit www.kamtrack.ca/ liveresults/.
Editor’s Note: Reporter Christine Dalgleish is a member of the PGTF Club.
VICKI BROWN PHOTO
Championship gold for Prince George blind curling team
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Prince George blind curling team, representing BC-1 in the Western Blind Curling Championships, has kept the gold at home.
The BC-1 team is the gold medal winner, followed by BC-2 with the silver and Alberta 1 with the bronze.
Terry Pipkey, the lead of the BC-1 team, told The Citizen that his team is happy with the victory but is a little disappointed by their loss in the final game.
“We were glad that we won the tournament,” said Pipkey, “but we didn’t do so well in our very last game. We ended up six and one in wins and losses. We did win the tournament—this is our year. We won the two major bonspiels that we entered, and we’re quite happy.”
Pipkey also shared the team’s highlight of the tournament.
“Our second coach, Victor Santos, spent quite a bit of his free time teaching the two newest teams, the Saskatchewan teams, helping them improve their game. He ended up being voted most sportsmanlike. He wasn’t expecting that, so he got up, and he was quite emotional about it.”
The team has been asked to throw the first ceremonial stone at the Kelly Cup on April 3 at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. In addition, funds for next season’s travel expenses will be raised at the fourth annual Twilight Golf Tournament on August 23 at the Pine Valley Golf Course.
Blind curling is unique in that it requires minimal adaptations for visually impaired players to participate.
Adaptations include one sighted sweeper per team and, in some cases, additional guides. Skips and sweepers also use bright lights on the ends of their brooms to help those throwing the rocks aim.
Prince George’s team, one of two BC teams, is a strong contender in the competition. The team has previously won the Canadian Visually Impaired Curling Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and five Western Blind Curling
Team BC1 Skip Eric Rosen releases his rock with the assistance of Jodie Gervais, who uses a marker light on her broom to guide him, while Team SK1 Skip David Hartshorn watches during Draw 2 of the Western Blind Curling Championship at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club on Thursday, March 20. Below, Mayor Simon Yu officially opens the competition.
Championships in 2008, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2024. They also won the 2023 BC Blind Curling Championship, which was held in Prince George.
Having honed their skills since their Canadian championship win, the Prince George team practices weekly against sighted senior curlers in the city.
The competition featured eight teams from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
Opening ceremonies were held on the morning of March 19, with appearances by Mayor Simon Yu and a ceremonial stone throw by 90-year-old Noel Hopper, the oldest member of the curling club.
Team members displayed a range of
Beyond raising awareness, the Prince George Curling Club hopes to recruit new members and pass on skills to younger curling enthusiasts.
“We’re all getting seniored out,” Rosen added. “Most visually impaired teams, including ours, are older. Manitoba has a young player in his early 20s, and a few other teams, like Alberta, have a young person. But there’s no real influx of younger players. It’s about getting people out of their homes—especially those who are visually impaired, as it can be frightening. Adjusting to vision loss is a big challenge for anyone.”
Player Russel Gervais told The Citizen that he is willing to coach younger visually impaired players and is excited about the possibility.
Canada is one of the only countries in the world with organized blind curling championships, but lead Terry Pipkey hopes this will change.
“We’d like to see the rest of the world catch up to Canada,” says Pipkey. “We’ve inquired about entering the disabled games, but we need at least six countries to participate in the sport. As far as we know, we’re the only country that has organized visually impaired blind curling. So, right now, we’re world champions!”
Here are the final scores for the BC-1 team:
• Game 1 – March 19 (p.m.): BC-1 won against BC-2 with a score of 11-2.
emotions as the competition continued. Some were nervous, others confident, and many were excited to meet new players from across Western Canada and exchange stories.
“There’s input from people who probably never left their own provinces before,” said skip Eric Rosen. “People are traveling, meeting others from different provinces, and gaining exposure. Many people in Prince George have never heard of blind curling, even though we’ve been here for many years. I still talk to people today who didn’t know there was a blind curling club. We want to raise awareness and get more people involved because curling has taken a hit in Prince George.”
• Game 2 – March 20 (a.m.): BC-1 won against SK-1 with a score of 12-1.
• Game 3 – March 20 (p.m.): BC-1 won against MB-2 with a score of 10-0.
• Game 4 – March 21 (a.m.): BC-1 won against SK-2 with a score of 15-6.
• Game 5 – March 21 (p.m.): BC-1 won against MB-1 with a score of 14-4.
• Game 6 – March 22 (a.m.): BC-1 won against AB-2 with a score of 14-2.
• Game 7 – March 22 (p.m.): AB-1 won against BC-1 with a score of 6-3.
CITIZEN PHOTOS BY CHUCK NISBETT
Life Events
Susanne Bouchard
January 24, 1966 - March 27, 2024
In Loving Memory of Susanne Bouchard. May your soul rest in eternal peace. Love Mom & Family
In Loving Memory
Arnie Arp
August 13, 1964 - March 31, 2021
In memory of Arnie Arp, much loved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Not a day goes by that you aren’t missed.
In Memory of
Beverly Smith
February 2, 1945 - March 31, 2021
“Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud, And the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide... I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart.” -E. E. Cummings
Missing you always, Darryl, Kristi, Shannon, Trinity and families.
In Loving Memory
Roy Kelln
March 9, 1946 - May 22, 2024
Roy’s loved ones are inviting family ad friends to join them on Sunday March 30th, at the Treasure Cove Casino, banquet room #101 at 10:00 am. Breakfast served at 10:30.
Let’s come together to remember Roy and reconnect over brunch.
We are looking forward to seeing you to share some stories and fond memories
Antonio Armando Resendes
January 20, 1952 - March 12, 2025
It is with deep sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Antonio Armando Resendes.
Antonio is survived by his loving children daughter Angel and son Antonio Jr (Cathy), his grandchildren Myia, Adisah, Chloe, Colton, Cayden, and Callie and 4 great grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers Mario (Noella), John and sister in law Gloria, and many nieces and nephews, and also survived by dear friend Bev.
Antonio was predeceased by his parents Jose and Maria do Carmo Resendes and by brother Jose Manuel Resendes. A prayer and viewing will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church Thursday Mar 27th @ 6:30pm and a funeral mass will be at St Mary’s Catholic Church on Friday Mar 28th @ 11:00am.
Dad’s final resting place will be at Prince George Memorial Park Cemetery. You will be forever in our hearts
Carol June Parent
April 28, 1936 - March 17, 2025
We sadly announce that on March 17th Carol (Mom) left our earthly garden to walk another path in a new garden. She was 88 years old.
Mom was predeceased by her husband Ed (Dad) last May, her soul mate for 71 years. She missed him dearly.
Mom’s life was blessed with four children, Carolynn, Wendy, Ed Jr. and Paul. Her family abounded with multiple grand children, great, & great-great grand children. All of whom made her life rich, and were the blossoms she tended to in her life’s garden.
Mom was born and raised in Prince George, and also spent many years living at Norman Lake where she tended to beautiful gardens, her fox friends, and chickadees. Mom loved gardening, enhancing the already beautiful nature that surrounded her. She loved being with family & friends at the lake with Dad and their dog Missy.
Loved by us all, she will be dearly missed. But we can take solace in knowing that she is now sitting on that heavenly swing with dad. We will cherish our memories of her forever.
A service to show our love for this remarkable person will be held on April 11, 2025 at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association 1692 10th Ave, Prince George, BC at 4:00 pm
In lieu of flowers, donations to your favourite charity in her memory would be appreciated.
George “Ted” Edward Giles
June 7 1949 - February 22, 2025
We are saddened to announce the passing George “Ted” Edward Giles.
Ted was born June 7th 1949 in Fredericton NB and passed away in Prince George BC on February 22nd 2025 at the age of 75.
Ted is survived by his sons, James (Jennifer), Jonathan (Tanya) and their mother Luba. He leaves behind grandchildren Joseph and Abbygale, Julie and Jacob. He was very proud of his family.
He hunted and guided in the McGregor mountains and there he found his favorite place, Hedrick Lake. He had a love for nature and the outdoors. He also raced sled dogs in the 70’s. He will be remembered for being “ten feet high and bullet proof.”
In his memory there will be a family hiking trip into Hedrick Lake this summer.
In Loving Memory
Sharon Adrienne Horswell
With deep sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of Sharon Horswell on March 13, 2025, at the age of 82, in Prince George, BC. Sharon’s life was marked by her love for animals, especially cats, her passion for the environment, and her unwavering commitment to her family.
Sharon is survived by her devoted spouse, Jim Horswell, her cherished children, Lisa Horswell and Craig Horswell, along with his partner, Sarah McNeil. She found immense joy in every moment spent with her grandchildren: Emily, Colin, and Harper Horswell.
Sharon’s legacy of compassion and understanding will be forever remembered by all who knew her. Her steadfast support for her family and friends made her an integral part of their lives.
Sharon will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA in Sharon’s memory.
Lorraine Avis Knight
August 6, 1931 - March 10, 2025
Lorraine Avis Knight, of Prince George, B.C., passed away peacefully on March 10, 2025 at the age of 93, at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia after a brief illness.
Born and raised in Prince George, Lorraine was the daughter of Josephine and Jock O’Rourke (James Ruark). Her family had deep roots in the community—her grandmother, Madeline Izowsky, was a true Prince George pioneer, co-owning and operating Izowsky & O’Rourke with her daughter Josephine, a successful Ladies’ and Children’s Wear store from the 1920s until 1966. Lorraine attended Prince George Junior-Senior High School, completing Grade 13 before continuing her education in Vancouver in 1951. A glimpse into her future was captured in her 1948 yearbook from grade 11:
“Lorraine’s the girl who’s exactly right, She’s small and sweet and short in height, And when she’s out, she’s out by (K)night.”
In 1952, Lorraine married her high school sweetheart, Dene Knight, and together they built a family, raising four children—Lynn, Doug, Bob and Lyle. She dedicated her career to education, working as an elementary school teacher and librarian for the Prince George School District until her retirement from Seymour Elementary School.
Even in retirement, Lorraine remained active with the Prince George Retired Teachers’ Association and went on to author, “First Tracks: Building Ski Culture in Prince George, B.C.” Lorraine and Dene lived their lives to the fullest, enjoying a remarkably active social and recreational life. They were longtime members of the Prince George Golf & Curling Club and Gyro International. Their love of the outdoors led them to spend cherished time at their cabins at both Purden Ski Village (for endless happy hours) and Summit Lake. Lorraine often attributed her longevity to northern BC huckleberries and good scotch.
Their adventurous spirit also took them beyond Canada’s borders—sailing their ketch, Knightwind 1, from Vancouver to Costa Rica over several years. Lorraine was a creative and musical soul, and regularly pursued new passions such as the ukulele, writing, drumming and painting.
Lorraine is lovingly remembered by her four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Dene, her parents Josephine and Jock and her siblings Jackie Wallace and Jim O’Rourke.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible staff at Jubilee Lodge for their care and kindness during Lorraine’s final chapter.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MS Canada in Lorraine’s memory.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Irma Wilson.
Irma was predeceased by her parents Maria and Rudolph Klix and her husband Bill. She leaves behind her children Stephanie, Elizabeth, and Jeffrey, her grandchildren Eric and Jordan, and her cat Missy.
Irma was born in Summerland, BC and married Bill Wilson in 1976. She and Bill moved to Prince George in 1980, where she worked as a Registered Nurse at Prince George Regional Hospital for many years in ICU, PACU, and the Cardiac Lab. Irma very much enjoyed volunteering with the Prince George Ringette Association (even the 6:00AM games and practices) and the St. Vincent De Paul Society.
Irma loved the outdoors, whether working in her garden, hiking, long walks around Prince George, camping trips, summer stays at Crescent Beach on Okanagan Lake, trips to Bill’s placer claims in the Wells-Barkerville area, or simply watching the birds and squirrels from her dining room window. When she and Bill moved “into town,” she was delighted to meet new walking partners and find new inspiration for her flower beds. No phone call home was complete without a detailed description of what was in bloom as well as the dogs she met on her daily walks around Moore’s Meadow.
Thank you to everyone at Raven Primary Care, BC Cancer, University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, and Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society. Irma deeply appreciated the care and kindness of her team.
Irma’s funeral will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Friday, March 21 at 11:00 AM.
Irma Wilson
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and Four Rivers Co-Op Cardlock. Please call Jennifer 250-617-7148
Uda Dune Baiyoh, House of Ancestors
355 Victoria Street, Prince George.
The Exploration Place 333 Becott Place Prince George, BC
Please join us for the presentation of the 2023 Annual Report and Operational Review. This meeting will also include a Community Consultation Committee meeting.
Please join us for the presentation of the 2024 Annual Report and Operational Review. This meeting will also include a Community Consultation Committee meeting.
FOREST OPERATIONS MAP
Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd (Lakeland Mills) proposed forest operations map (FOM), ID:2232, will be available for public review and comment from March 27, 2025 until April 27, 2025.
The FOM is valid for three years and may be relied upon for cutting & road permits to harvest a cutblock or construct a road shown on the FOM. It may be accessed & comments may be submitted at the following website: Forest Operations Map (gov.bc.ca).
To discuss the FOM with a Sinclar representative, schedule an appointment during business hours, Mon-Fri between 8:30am-4:30pm.
Contact Michael Watson, RPF at 250-565-7630 or michael.watson@sinclar.com to schedule. Written comments can be mailed to: Michael Watson, Sinclar Woodlands, 1515 Nicholson St S, PG, BC, V2N 1V7
Women’s Gold wedding ring with diamonds. Possibly in Costco or parking lot. Several errands in central, downtown area
*On March 31, 1492, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile issued the Alhambra Decree, which mandated that all Jews be expelled from the country by the end of July. The church had already forced much of Spain’s Jewish population to convert, and modern historians estimate that
• 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) With change dominant this week, don’t be surprised to find new emerging facts that could put a slant on a situation and offer you another choice. Think it through before you decide.
around 40,000 Jews emigrated.
* On April 1, 1963, ABC aired the first episode of “General Hospital,” which became the longest-running serial program produced in Hollywood.
On the same day, rival network NBC premiered its own medical-themed soap opera, “The Doctors.” Both networks aimed to capitalize on the popularity of shows such as “Dr. Kildare” and “Ben Casey.”
* On April 2, 1992, mob boss John Gotti, aka the “Teflon Don” due to his notable ability to avoid conviction, was found guilty on 13 counts, including murder and racketeering, and sentenced
to life in prison. A decade later, he died of throat cancer at age 61.
* On April 3, 1948, “The Louisiana Hayride,” a country radio program broadcast out of Shreveport, Louisiana, debuted. It launched the careers of several country music giants, and also that of a certain teenage, honey-voiced aspirant by the name of Elvis Presley.
* On April 4, 1975, Operation Babylift, an American airlift to the U.S. and other Western nations of Vietnamese children deemed war orphans, had a disastrous start when an Air Force cargo jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Saigon, killing more than 135 passengers.
* On April 5, 1984, Kareem AbdulJabbar scored the 31,420th point of his career, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar’s record would remain intact for almost four decades.
* On April 6, 1909, American explorer Robert Peary believed he had fulfilled a long-cherished dream when he, his assistant Matthew Henson and four Inuits reached what they determined to be the North Pole. Decades after Peary’s death, however, navigational errors were discovered in his travel log, in all probability placing his expedition several miles short of its goal.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Recently uncovered information might put a new light on a situation you thought had been resolved. Keep an open mind about possible changes that you might have to consider.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You might feel uneasy disagreeing with someone you’ve been close to. But your relationship should be able to withstand and even thrive when you confront your true feelings.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) New contacts help you learn some important information about upcoming developments. The week calls for the Sea Goat to be more flexible than usual in a number of matters.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) There could be some lingering problems from a previous matter that involved a decision you felt you had to make. Resolve the situation with your strong Taurean no-nonsense approach.
• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The Gemini’s carefully made plans could be undone by someone’s unexpected decision. Getting the full story behind a surprise move can help you decide how to deal with the matter.
• 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.”
LEO (July 23 to August 22) With a potential revision of an old agreement, you can’t beat the Big Cat for knowing how to sharpen a “clause” to the best advantage. Meanwhile, someone close could have the news you’ve been waiting for.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)
Certain issues in the workplace could put you in the middle of a dispute you’d rather not deal with. Express your honest feelings before the pressure to take sides builds up.
• 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.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A romantic situation seems to be creating more confusion than you can handle. If so, own up to your feelings. The sooner you do, the better your chances are for working things out.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) With change directing the Archer’s aim, consider a second look at your plans and see where they might benefit from a revision. In other news, a workplace matter is close to a resolution.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) With both change and uncertainty in your aspect, you might feel less confident in a previous decision. This is OK. Check it out and see where it could be modified, if necessary.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Old relationships that seemed to be sinking are buoyant again, and new relationships are benefiting from Cupid’s loving care. This could be a good time to make a major move!
Homes & Living
The importance of leaving leaf litter in your yard
As the vibrant colors of autumn fade and winter approaches, many homeowners are eager to tidy up their yards by raking and removing fallen leaves. However, leaving leaf litter in your yard for as long as possible can have numerous benefits for your garden, local wildlife, and the environment. Here’s why you should consider embracing a more natural approach to yard maintenance.
Leaf litter is a valuable source of nutrients for your soil. As leaves decompose, they release essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium back into the ground. These nutrients enrich the soil, promoting healthier plant growth and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. By allowing leaves to break down naturally, you can create a more sustainable and fertile garden.
Leaf litter provides a crucial habitat for various forms of wildlife. Many beneficial insects, such as beetles, spiders, and worms, thrive in the leaf layer. These
insects play a vital role in the ecosystem by aiding in decomposition and serving as food for birds and other animals. Additionally, leaf litter offers shelter for small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles during the colder months. By leaving leaves in your yard, you support biodiversity and contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
Leaves act as a natural mulch, helping to retain moisture in the soil. This is particularly important during dry periods when water conservation is essential. The leaf layer reduces evaporation, keeping the soil moist and promoting root growth. This can lead to more resilient plants and a garden that requires less frequent watering. In turn, this helps conserve water and reduces your overall water usage.
Leaf litter can help suppress the growth of weeds in your garden. By covering the soil, leaves create a barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating and taking root. This natural weed control method
reduces the need for chemical herbicides, which can be harmful to the environment and local wildlife. A garden with fewer weeds is easier to maintain and allows your desired plants to thrive without competition.
Leaves help protect the soil from erosion caused by wind and rain. The leaf layer acts as a protective cover, reducing the impact of raindrops and preventing soil from being washed away. This is especially important in areas with sloped terrain or heavy rainfall. By preventing soil erosion, you maintain the integrity of your garden and promote healthier plant growth.
Leaving leaf litter in your yard can save you time and money. Raking and bagging leaves can be labor-intensive and costly, especially if you need to purchase disposal bags or pay for yard waste removal services. By allowing leaves to decompose naturally, you reduce the need for these tasks and expenses. Additionally, the benefits of nutrient
recycling and moisture retention can lead to lower costs for fertilizers and water. Removing leaves from your yard often involves transporting them to landfills, where they contribute to waste and greenhouse gas emissions. By leaving leaves in your yard, you reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills and minimize your carbon footprint. This simple act can have a positive impact on the environment and contribute to more sustainable living practices.
Early spring home maintenance in a northern climate
As the snow begins to melt and temperatures start to rise, early spring is the perfect time to tackle home maintenance tasks that ensure your home is ready for the warmer months ahead. Living in a northern climate, such as Prince George, BC, presents unique challenges and opportunities for homeowners. Here are some essential tips for early spring home maintenance in a northern climate.
Winter can be harsh on gutters, with ice and snow causing blockages and potential damage. Start by inspecting your gutters for any signs of wear and tear. Look for cracks, loose brackets, and areas where water may be pooling. Clean out any debris, such as leaves and twigs, that may have accumulated over the winter. Ensuring your gutters are clear and functioning properly will prevent water damage to your home’s foundation and roof.
Heavy snow and ice can take a toll on your roof. Early spring is an ideal time to inspect your roof for any damage. Look for missing or damaged shingles, signs of leaks, and areas where ice dams may have formed. If you notice any issues, consider hiring a professional to make necessary repairs. Addressing roof damage early can prevent more significant problems down the line.
The freeze-thaw cycle common in northern climates can cause cracks in your home’s exterior walls and foundation. Walk around your home and inspect the walls and foundation for any visible cracks or signs of damage. Seal any small cracks with caulk or masonry repair compound to prevent water infiltration. For larger cracks, consult a professional to assess and repair the damage.
Early spring is the perfect time to start preparing your garden and landscaping for the growing season. Remove any dead plants and debris from your garden beds. Consider adding compost or mulch to enrich the soil and retain moisture. Prune trees and shrubs to promote healthy growth and remove any branches damaged by winter weather. Planning and planting hardy vegetables and flowers suited to the local climate can ensure a vibrant garden throughout the spring and summer.
After a long winter, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems may need some attention. Schedule a professional inspection and servicing of your HVAC systems to ensure they are operating efficiently. Replace air filters, check for any signs of wear and tear, and clean vents and ducts. Proper maintenance of your HVAC systems can improve indoor air quality and reduce energy costs.
Windows and doors are critical areas where heat can escape and cold air can enter. Inspect the seals and weatherstripping around windows and doors for any signs of damage or wear. Replace any damaged seals to improve energy efficiency and prevent drafts. Cleaning windows and doors can also enhance the appearance of your home and allow more natural light to enter.
Cold temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst, leading to potential water damage. Inspect your plumbing systems for any signs of leaks or damage. Check outdoor faucets and hoses for cracks and ensure they are functioning properly. If you notice any issues, consider hiring a plumber to make necessary repairs. Preventing plumbing problems early can save you from costly repairs later.
As the weather warms up, you’ll likely spend more time outdoors. Inspect and clean outdoor spaces such as patios, decks, and walkways. Look for any signs of damage or wear and make necessary repairs. Consider power washing surfaces to remove dirt and grime accumulated over the winter. Preparing outdoor spaces early can ensure they are ready for use throughout the spring and summer.
Spring is a great time to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly. Replace batteries if needed and consider upgrading to newer models if your detectors are more than 10 years old. Having working detectors is crucial for the safety of your home and family.
In northern climates, melting snow and spring rains can lead to basement flooding. Inspect your sump pump to
ensure it is in good working condition. Clean the pump and the pit to remove any debris that could obstruct its operation. Test the pump by pouring water into the pit to make sure it activates and pumps water out efficiently.
Proper attic ventilation and insulation are essential for maintaining a comfortable home and preventing moisture buildup. Inspect your attic for any signs of mold, mildew, or pests. Ensure that vents are clear and functioning properly. Check the insulation for any damage or compression and consider adding more insulation if needed to improve energy efficiency.
As you prepare for spring gardening and lawn care, it’s a good idea to service your lawn equipment. Sharpen mower blades, change the oil, and replace air filters in your lawnmower. Check other equipment like trimmers and leaf blowers to ensure they are in good working condition. Properly maintained equipment will make your outdoor tasks easier and more efficient.
Winter weather can cause cracks and damage to driveways and walkways. Inspect these areas for any signs of wear and tear. Fill small cracks with appropriate sealant and consider resurfacing larger areas if needed.
Maintaining your driveways and walkways can prevent accidents and improve the overall appearance of your property. Spring is a great time to clean and organize your garage. Remove any clutter and dispose of items you no longer need. Sweep the floor and consider adding storage solutions like shelves or pegboards to keep tools and equipment organized. A clean and organized garage can make your home more functional and enjoyable.
Inspect the exterior paint and siding of your home for any signs of peeling, chipping, or damage. Touch up any areas where paint is worn or damaged to protect the underlying materials from the elements. If the siding is damaged, consider repairing or replacing it to maintain the integrity and appearance of your home.
By incorporating these tips into your early spring home maintenance routine, you can ensure your home is well-prepared for the season. Taking the time to address these tasks can prevent potential issues, enhance the comfort and safety of your home, and allow you to enjoy the beauty of spring in Prince George, BC.
