POLICE: Annual statistics presented to city council A3 Friday, February 10, 2012
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City numbers increase ■ census
Kay opening for Hedley next week A10
Go Cougars Go
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
In 2011, the population of Prince George, including rural areas surrounding it, was 84,232, representing a percentage change of 1.2 per cent from 2006, according to the Canadian census. Mayor Shari Green said growing the tax base in Prince George, which means increasing the population, is certainly something council, along with other city partners, will continue to work on. “Business recruitment and retention is a key factor,” she said. “We need employers in the area and that will bring in families.” Business recruitment and retention will be one of Initiative Prince George’s priorities in the upcoming year. She said the modest growth is positive, however partners like the city, IPG, Enhance PG and Tourism need to work together and make sure they are sharing the same positive message about Prince George with the world. This compares to the national growth of 5.9 per cent and to the average growth among all ‘census agglomeration’ areas of 4.2 per cent. At 84,232 people, Prince George is the eighth largest metropolitan area in British Columbia and the 46th largest in Canada. Within city limits, the population went from 70,981 in 2006 to 71,974 in 2011 for a growth rate of 1.4 per cent. Fraser-Fort George Regional District area D went from 4,361 in 2006 to 4,175 in 2011, a 4.3 per cent decrease. Area C went from 3,217 in 2006 to 3,434 in 2001, a 6.7 per cent increase. Area A went from 3,275 to 3,362, a 2.7 per cent increase. Area F went from 1,284 to 1,207, a six per cent decrease. Shelley went from 107 people to 80, a 27 per cent decrease.
A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s
Prince George Brownies members Megan Lennard (left) and Hailey Tompkins, both seven years old, hold a sign to show their support for the Prince George Cougars during Saturday night’s game against the Kelowna Rockets at CN Centre. Representatives from the BC Girl Guides took in the contest.
Willey family launches civil suit DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepess.com
A civil suit has been filed against the RCMP on behalf of the Willey family over the in-custody death of Clayton Alvin Willey in 2003. Willey’s parents, Gloria and Brian, along with his sister, Bryna, and Willey’s young son, who bears his father’s name, gathered in the office of their lawyer, Simon Wagstaffe, Tuesday afternoon to talk about their plans going forward following the recent release of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) interim report and the RCMP’s response. Yvonne Shuman, a long-time family friend, spoke on their behalf.
Great Canadian & TOUCHLESS CAR WASH
“We believe we have enough. We are going to proceed to trial,” she said, adding they feel there are many inconsistencies in the treatment of Willey as well as the investigation into it and the CPC report. Those inconsistencies, she said, include the use of excessive force by officers. “They tortured and murdered him is what they done,” Brian said. Shuman added it was unreasonable to use the Taser on Willey, who was hogtied during his arrest. She said Tasers are a tool used by the RCMP, but their effects haven’t been properly researched to the degree needed. Officers don’t know what reaction the discharge of a Taser will have
on someone with a drug or heart problem. Willey had both. “He had a valve problem with his heart. It’s in his file. They knew this. They should have known this,” she said. “When Tasers were brought in, they were labelled as apprehension tools,” Gloria added. Shuman said the family feels Serious Crimes didn’t question the inconsistencies, and gave up on the investigation into the actions of the officers involved as soon as the pathologist said Willey died of a cocaine overdose. “They had their way out,” Brian said.
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