February 24, 2012

EDUCATION: Board debates LGBTQ policy A3 Friday, February 24, 2012

Aboriginal entrepreneurs meet up with possible investors A3

Legion may close

Handful

of

Henna

DeLynda Pilon

newsroom@pgfreepress.com

An alleged fraud committed by a past employee put the Prince George Legion in the position of taking out a large mortgage, leaving the organization with a debt that may well lead to the Legion losing its charter at the end of April.

“A former employee took us for about $300,000,” John Scott, Legion past-president, said. “That put us in trouble. The executive took over in 2010 and there was a massive amount of money owed.

There were bills that hadn’t been paid in two years.”

So the executive took out a mortgage on the building.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

The building itself, which has been up for sale for several years, is about 20,000 square feet, much too big for the membership, which is about 700 strong. However, as is true with most service clubs, there are about 100 members, maybe less, who come out regularly, though many more attend during special events, like Remembrance Day. And, Scott said, changes in liquor laws, smoking laws and a lack of interest in the public in seeking entertainment in the downtown core, has taken its toll, along with the cost of hydro and gas, particularly during the winter months.

“It all combined and all of a sudden we’re not making the bills. When you’re running with no cash flow, you’re in trouble all the time.” turn to PAGE A9

City budget meetings end Delynda pilon newsroom@pgfreepress.com

The budget process is completed this year for the City of Prince George, with few surprises except an increase in the budget for the Prince George Library, and a promise to find a way to undertake some strategic planning for future infrastructure funding.

Snow removal and roads were kept at the 2011 levels, however Coun. Cameron Stolz questioned the road budget of $3 and a half million, asking what the city should be spending

just to keep up with the rate of deterioration.

He was told the number was double that amount, at $7 million.

“I’m looking for us to be able to work with administration and finance and audit to create a three- to fiveyear sustainability plan around roads,” Coun.

Lyn Hall said. “I think it’s important we establish that kind of a planning cycle.”

The operations budget, which passed at $16 million, includes snow removal, road rehabilitation and other turn to PAGE A9

Te re s a M A LLA M / Fre e Pre s s

Hennas were just some of the wonderful ways to pamper oneself during Spa Day and UNBC on Saturday. For complete story turn to Page A11

‘It was just so disgusting’ ■ Court

Complainant testifies in sex assault case against three men Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com

The complainant in a sexual assault trial broke down and sobbed during her testimony in B.C. Supreme Court and at least twice was excused from the courtroom so she could regain her composure.

Tears flowed and the witness often dabbed at her eyes with a tissue as she spoke about the events she said occurred at an alleged biker club house in Prince George on March 24, 2011.

Under direct examination by Crown counsel Cassandra Malfair, the witness took the stand Tuesday and Wednesday and described being sexually assaulted “over and over” by three men. She said oral sex was performed on her against her will by a woman.

Some of the alleged forced sex acts happened on a downstairs couch, she said, while others took place on a bed upstairs.

Two of the accused men held her arms down during some attacks, she said.

Asked by the Crown how she felt after the oral sex incident, the witness covered her face, sobbed, and said, “I just felt helpless, like I couldn’t do anything

... It was just so disgusting.”

In response to Malfair’s question, “why didn’t you leave?” the witness said, “I was too scared ... I just thought if I just did what they said, I would get through it.”

On Wednesday, asked the same question, following another described sexual assault, she said, “I thought they would hurt me.”

Albert Piche, 31, Julian Niskakoski, 19, and Adam Boyd, 21, are each charged with five criminal offences in connection with the case: assault, two counts of sexual assault with a weapon/ threats/ bodily harm, unlawful confinement or imprisonment, and administering a noxious thing with intent to endanger.

On the stand, the witness was asked details about each sexual assault she could recall and asked to name the man or men involved in each one. At one point during her lengthy and often tearful testimony Tuesday, she said, “they were all the same after that, one person would have sex with me, then another, and another, they would just take turns.”

The forced sexual penetrations were very painful for her, she said. Towards the end of her testimony Tuesday, she

said, “the same thing just kept happening over and over and I just stopped feeling anything ... I felt like my body was there but I wasn’t there anymore.”

On Wednesday, the witness cried and began shaking as she was asked by the Crown to describe one occasion where she was sexually assaulted with a full bottle of vodka with the cap off.

She also testified one man pushed her face into lines of cocaine on a dresser in the bedroom.

“Did you voluntarily ingest that cocaine?” asked Malfair.

“No,” replied the witness.

In earlier testimony Monday, an RCMP investigator told the court about several items he retrieved from the the house and a series of pictures he took of the scene. In his description of the house, he noted there were sofas in the main floor living room and two bedrooms upstairs – one with a dresser in it.

He also said he retrieved two vodka bottles from the recycle bin on the main floor, and under a bed upstairs he found a condom.

The B.C. Supreme Court trial in Prince George is expected to last at least one week and is being heard before Madam Justice Sandra Ballance.

Prince George Free Press

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Local skiers off to Canada Winter Games B1

Up Front

Spa Day at UNBC was a great chance to get pampered for a good cause A11

Bill phillips 250-564-0005 newsroom@pgfreepress.com

www.pgfreepress.com

Capacity crowd looks for perfect match ■ aboriginal business

Delynda pilon

newsroom@pgfreepress.com

The 2012 Aboriginal Business Match was a success even before the first participant walked through the door, so much so, in fact, that it outgrew the Civic Centre as a venue for next year.

Katrin Henry, managing partner with Raven Event Management, said the event was sold out to a capacity crowd, and people had to be turned away.

“It’s exceeding expectations,” she said. “I’ve spoken to everyone, and every single one of them committed for 2013.”

Henry said the event is the most cost-effective way to connect, providing 31 appointments for each First Nations band represented.

“Companies are very happy to have access to all these connections,” she said. “People come here with plans and strategies about what they want to accomplish. We asked them ahead of time about their goals and expectations.”

Those ran the gamut, she said, from something as simple as insurance questions to the more

complex quest of finding an appropriate business partner.

“They were very specific in what they were looking for.”

The e-profiles the business delegates and First Nations representatives completed helped match goals and interests and led to almost 5,000 hours of business meetings over the course of the event.

On Feb. 13, during the first day of the event, Memoranda of Understandings were signed between seven of eight partners, to mark the launch of the Aboriginal Business Association.

Industry Council for Aboriginal Business president Keith Henry said the BCABA will deliver workshops in regional sessions across the province, skills development forums and coordinate regional industry, corporate industry, First Nations business and Aboriginal entrepreneur sessions to identify contract opportunities and requirements.

“First Nations are very serious about their economic development,” Katrin Henry said.

She added a thank-you to the Lheidli T’enneh for welcoming them into their traditional terri-

De v o n C R A IG / Sp e cia l to Fre e Pre s s

Ron Mancewich and Randy Dakota man the booth at Angelique’s Native Arts during the Aboriginal Business Match event at the Civic Centre last week. tory.

“As an Aboriginal person and CEO of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C., I’ve never

seen such positive and concrete outcomes from a conference before,” Henry, who chaired the ABM 2012 steering committee,

said in a press release following the event. “I’m encouraged by what I think will be the longterm results of this event.”

School board won’t have separate LGBTQ policy ALLan Wishart

allanw@pgfreepress.com

A former school trustee wasn’t shocked by the current board’s discussion at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I wasn’t surprised,” said Valentine Crawford. “I was disappointed.”

Up for discussion at the meeting was a review of the district’s Code of Student Conduct. Crawford and others spoke to the board about the need for more protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students and teach-

ers.

“In the January after I was elected,” Crawford said after the meeting, “so three years ago, a teacher and some students came to the board asking for an LGBTQ policy to be put in place. The matter went to the policy and governance committee, which prepared a report. The board at that time was fine with discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation being a part of all policies in the district, but with nothing specific.”

That same lack of specificity, he said, was clear to him at the Tuesday meeting.

“What we had last night was talk around half the issue. It was mostly about the lack of instruction about possibly discriminatory language in schools.”

One thing he found interesting, however, was the apparent non-unanimity on the board regarding a separate policy for LGBTQ discrimination. Trustee Kate Cooke spoke about the possible need for such a policy, which others did not think it necessary.

Crawford said he also noticed the trustees still seemed to be looking for quick fixes.

“(Trustee) Sharon Bourassa talked about the need to revise the Safer Schools document quickly, but a quick rolling-out doesn’t do it justice.”

He says there needs to be a policy put in place for the issues students and teachers face, and that it can’t be done by administration alone.

“It can’t be done in isolation by someone who is not experiencing this behaviour on a daily basis.”

Trustees felt there was no need to revise the current policy, but suggested more work be done on enforcement.

Spirit Dancers

Calvin Harry and Trevor Kempthorne show some of the wares at the Spirit Dancer booth at the Aboriginal Business Match event at the Civic Centre last week.

Devon C R A IG / Special to Free Press

■ Wildlife complaints

Low snow means low numbers

ALLan Wishart

allanw@pgfreepress.com

It’s been a quieter winter than normal for local conservation officers.

Officer Gary Van

Spengen says the number of calls they have received this year about wildlife encounters is down substantially.

“Since the beginning of November, we have

had 146 complaints this year. Last year, in the same period, we had 218.”

Van Spengen says a lot of the reason for the decrease is the weather.

“The snowpack is down locally, so animals aren’t having to come into the city to find food. Also, because the highways have been clearer, there hasn’t been as much salt used on them, which normally attracts animals to the road to feed.”

He says there has been the odd moose sighted in town this winter, but can’t remember immediately when the last call was for that.

“They’re able to move around quite easily, so they’re able to stay out in the bush.”

One species they have received a number of calls on is cougar.

“We’ve had some

cougar complaints in the outlying areas.

We’ve had a couple in Miworth, and we had to take one cat out of the Willow Cale area.

There have also been sightings in Salmon Valley and on Cranbrook Hill, but it’s not unusual to have cougar in those areas.”

While the numbers of wildlife sightings are down, Van Spengen reminds drivers to exercise caution.

“Especially when you’re driving on the highways, drive to the conditions, and watch for wildlife on the side of the road or in the ditches beside the road.

“It only takes one moose to ruin your day.”

Public gives council input on spending ■ Municipal budget

Delynda pilon

newsroom@pgfreepress.com

Several members of the public took the opportunity to speak during the public session at the first budget presentation meeting Feb. 15.

Potholes in sidewalks, the lack of curb cuts on corners and the build-up of ice during winter are all conditions that make accessibility difficult for people in wheelchairs, scooters or those pushing strollers in the city of Prince George, according to members of the Advisory Committee on Accessibility.

Ken Biron and Heather Lamb spoke before council and discussed some of the challenges the sidewalks, particularly during winter months,

present to those travelling along them in the city.

Biron said deteriorating driveways in some areas add to the problem, and are sometimes up to five cm lower than the sidewalk.

“Those areas have been ignored pretty much since they’ve been here,” he said.

Some areas of particular concern are along 17th Avenue, from Spruce to Winnipeg.

The worst, he said, are near the old Odeon theatre on Vancouver from Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue, with sloping narrow sidewalks and a lot of potholes.

Dave Bakker, vicepresident of the Northern Bear Awareness Society, also took the opportunity to speak

during the public session of the budget meeting.

His concern was with the city cuts to the environment department and how those cuts would affect the bear awareness program. He said three of the six required criteria to make Prince George a bear-smart community have been fulfilled.

“The loss of the liaison with environmental services raises questions about the commitment of the city. NBAs will continue to provide education to the people of Prince George but we can only do this if the funding and sponsorships continue to support us. The final three requirements to become bear smart are beyond our abilities

Dipper Check

Allan W ISHA RT/Free Press

Safety personnel from the Ness Lake Volunteer Fire Department make sure a couple of spectators don’t become inadvertent participiants in the Polar Bear Dip on Sunday, as they test the temperature other people will be jumping into.

One injured in fire One person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following a fire on Beech Crescent just after midnight on Feb. 22.

Sixteen fire fighters from three halls responded to the call on the 400 block of Beech Crescent and quickly put the fire out, containing

it to the kitchen.

Other occupants of the home were uninjured.

The fire was started by cooking with oil that had spilt on an element of the stove when it was moved.

Damage, estimated at $15,000, was contained to the kitchen.

and now fall under the mandate of the city.

A committed action plan to the amending of bylaws, the enacting of others, and following the assessment and prevention plans is the responsibility of the City of Prince George,” Bakker read from a letter presented to council.

In conclusion he asked council to reconsider the elimination of the environmental division.

CUPE Local 1048 President Janet Big-

elow addressed council on the recent city employee cutbacks, which include nine people in various positions at the city plus another 19 vacancies that will not be filled.

Bigelow brought up a remark made by Coun. Cameron Stolz earlier in the meeting.

He was discussing a motion to cut back on councillor’s travel budgets and asked how council would learn about things like a grant that saved the city $1 million?

The question referred to a grant Stolz found out about that helped reduce costs on the new RCMP building.

Bigelow said many grants, up to about $38 million, were generated by those who had been laid off at the city.

“I can’t help but wonder who is going to find those grants?” she asked, adding she wondered who would generate the business cases for grants now many of those staff members are gone.

Other speakers during the public session included a gentleman who asked council to keep tax increases as low as possible and a lady who spoke on several matters including curb-side recycling as well as Dr. Marie Hay and Terry Robert, who both spoke in favour of the city continuing to support PGAIR. Towards the end of the budget meeting, council voted to continue supporting the organization with a $70,000 grant.

Opinion

The Prince George Free Press, founded in 1994, is published every Wednesday and Friday in Prince George by Prince George Publication Limited Partnership. Contents copyright of Prince George Publication Limited Partnership.

www.pgfreepress.com

What’s the alternative?

I

t will be interesting to see what council comes up with as an alternative to the alternative approval process.

Coun. Frank Everitt stated that he is out-and-out opposed to the system, which is kind of a negative-billing process for public input. Other councillors expressed concern and the elected group, as a whole, has stated they will work to make the process more accessible. Good for council to try and make the process more workable. One thing they can do, which they didn’t state they would do, is lobby the provincial government to get rid of the alternative approval process.

While it’s commendable for council to try to make the process work, their hands really are tied.

The alternative approval process came about when the Liberals introduced the Community Charter. Unhappy with Municipal Act laws mandating communities to go to the electorate to approve extraordinary expenditures (i.e. borrowing money to build a dike), the Liberal government crafted a way for municipal politicians to get around the requirement and still say they sought public input.

Rather than go to the electorate and let the majority rule the day (which, by the way, provincial politicians steadfastly want to retain for general elections, hence their reticence to entertain proportional representation), the alternative approval process puts the onus on those opposed to something to mobilize and sign a petition. If the petition is successful, council must either abandon its plans or put the issue to referendum.

In Prince George, with about 52,000 eligible voters, a successful alternative approval process petition would require 5,200 signatures.

To put that in perspective, Mayor Shari Green was elected with just over 6,900 votes.

In other words, the alternative approval process is designed to fail. Only in extraordinary circumstances would one even come close to being successful.

The alternative approval process is a handy tool for municipalities to avoid a referendum on contentious issues. The excuse trotted out, and the River Road dike proposal is no exception, is that it costs about $1,600 for the alternative approval process and upwards of $50,000 for a referendum. It’s tough to argue against. However, the real issue is that the public is, essentially, being denied a chance to have a legitimate say. If a council feels strongly enough that an extraordinary expenditure is worthwhile and if it feels strongly that it should do the will of the people, then it should be prepared to defend extra expenditures through a referendum In addition, we now live in a world of online everything. Surely there must be a way to solicit the views of the electorate without going through the onerous expense of a referendum. Perhaps a move to online voting would provide an opportunity to institute, in conjunction with online voting, a process whereby electors will be able to have a greater say in such matters … and without breaking the bank.

We wish council the best in clearing some of the alternative approval process quagmire for the citizens of Prince George.

In closing we offer two quick comments: Firstly, council could have just sent the River Road dike matter to referendum if they don’t like the alternative approval process.

Secondly, and this comes from the sending-good-money-after-bad department. Many in this community were shaking their heads a few years ago when the council of the day decided to upgrade River Road rather than build a dike. The upgraded River Road was to serve as the dike, leaving some rather confounded business owners on the river side of the ‘dike.’ That work was completed and now we are building a dike, pending the alternative approval process of course. In essence, we will have two dikes a matter of yards apart.

It is indeed mind boggling. However, the city is doing now what should have been done following the 2007 ice jam.

■ opinion

Toews should apologize

lead their group to the Promised Land they will creOur personal liberties are always at risk. There ate in Ottawa. The first thing they learn after being are those who will argue strongly that there is a elected is not everyone thinks the same as them, not need to reduce our liberties for the common good. even all members of their own party.

We all agree that we wish to get drunk drivers off The government of Prime Minister Harper may the road and slam every single child molester into just be realizing that majority in government does jail forever. To do this, the politicians are lobbied not mean absolute authority and command. The by interested groups and police forces, each makmanner of introduction of Bill C-30 is an indicator ing a sincere and rational argument to support their of how fast things can go wrong. The introduction belief that greater powers are needed to properly of the Internet Security Legislation deal with the problems. While we can

by Minister Vic Toews turned into an sympathize with them, we don’t want embarrassing farce. His remarks in the to inconvenience us all for the sake of Commons that either you support his the few. proposed Internet surveillance bill or The investigation of crimes and the you are in favour of child pornography collection of evidence is frequently a will rank in the top 10 stupid comdifficult task. It is frustrating having to Onside VictorBowman ments of the year. It was insulting to wait to obtain a warrant to probe into all Canadians and will be remembered the personal affairs of those suspected for a long time. Minister Toews owes a very sincere of being involved. Any investigator would love to apology to the whole country and may be able to have broader and quicker access to all the informasalvage some shred of integrity and honesty by puttion they may need or think they may need. We all ting forth his resignation immediately. want to catch the rotten criminals, but we also have It does make one wonder if there are a bunch to ask ourselves how much we are willing to sacriof extreme right-wingers crafting this and further fice to do so. How far do we allow someone to pry legislation in what are often referred to as “Chrisinto our lives? How much power are we wiling to give other over our lives? What is a reasonable limi- tian values and principles.” The implementing of rules having the objective of bringing about narrow tation on government powers? conformity of behaviour which we all shall have to Limitations on the government’s powers were obey or suffer the consequences of the law. fought for and defended by our forefathers. They We have moved beyond the debates over such seemed to realize that given the opportunity, there things as abortion and capital punishment. The will are those who will give themselves increasing of the majority of Canadians has been acted upon power while diminishing the power and strength of and those decisions are not retractable. the individual.

While every Member of Parliament has a right to To any politician, in or out of government, being their opinions and values, they must not forget they surrounded by individuals who may freely quesrepresent all Canadians. tion, support or oppose their ideas is a sobering Their job is to evaluate all opinions and arrive at experience. Before they enter parliament, they are a consensus, not force policy based just upon their surrounded by like-minded people. They may even personal beliefs. have convinced themselves that they are the one to Circulation Manager...........................Heather Trenaman Email: circulation@pgfreepress.com...... 250-564-0504

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Nothing punny about some headlines

tional, it was absolutely An ESPN website ediblind to the race of the tor was fired this week player, which is just as for writing the headline unforgivable an offence.

“Chink In The Armor” for It also exposes a story that the sliding scale included of racism in a photo of America, where Jeremy Lin, throwing racial an L.A.insults at Asians born son of is still acceptTaiwanese Rough Cuts able but making parents NeilGodbout similar slurs who curagainst blacks is rently plays unforgivable. for the New York Knicks There is no way any of the NBA. headline writer would It’s a play on words, make the same mistake of course, to describe the team’s play while referring with Kobe Bryant or LeBron James with the to Lin’s Chinese heritage.

The headline writer denied headline “Calling A Spade A Spade” because no one any racist intent but went could ever sincerely claim on to say “this had nothinnocence. Sensitivity to ing to do with being cute black racism is much furor punny.” As a former ther up on the radar. That headline writer myself, phrase, as well as the word nothing could be further “niggardly,” are rarely from the truth. It’s your heard in the U.S., even job to be cute and punny, though neither of them has while pushing the taste anything to do with race barriers as far as they can (niggardly means stingy go. or cheap), because of the Did the headline writer huge risk to offend anydeserve to be fired? Defione of African-American nitely. If it wasn’t inten-

descent.

Writing cute and punny headlines comes with the headline writer’s job. In a few words, you have to pull the reader into the story, so “punching it up” any way you can is encouraged.

A former boss of mine spoke to me several times about relying too much on song titles in headlines, a go-to trick of mine on deadline back in the day. The headline on a photograph of a highschool teacher decked out in green for St. Patrick’s Day became “Smells Like Green Spirit.” The headline for a photo essay about Canada Day festivities on a Saturday in Fort George Park was “Saturday In The Park (I Think It Was The First of July).”

And here’s how easy it is to write offensive headlines.

There was a front-page story about a man who came into a convenience store late at night with his hand recently cut off. He

refused to cooperate with police from his hospital bed and police said it was a gang punishment. The police spokesperson even made a slight joke, informing local residents not to worry because there’s no one going around the city

collecting hands.

With that in mind, the headline seemed obvious.

“Attack stumps police.”

My boss said he could have lived with that but the secondary headline really took the cake.

“Victim refuses to finger

assailant.”

Now I can laugh about it for my cleverness but shake my head for my stupidity because I broke the headline writer’s first commandment – never use the best worst headline.

Ever.

I’m Outta Here!

A lla n W ISHA RT/ Fre e Pre s s

While some of the participants in the Polar Bear Dip on Sunday at Ness Lake Bible Camp were willing to spend a bit of time in the water, the majority just wanted to get out as soon as they got in.

Get all the facts before buying a business

Have your accountant scour the finanBuying a business is a bit like buying cials for issues, risks, and liabilities. a used car, except there’s usually more money at stake and potentially a lot more Determine whether the financials were created by a qualified accountant or by risk. the owner while swashing back a Fortunately, there are a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Seek your number of things you can accountant’s help in structuring do to limit the risk and the deal, and be sure to lay it out increase likelihood of a Boudreau in a way that takes full advantage successful business purBiz of any tax breaks chase or sale.

DanBoudreau Get Legal Advice. I recomGet The Financials. If mend you meet with a lawyer you can’t get a clean set of the minute you start to get excited about financial statements – quickly and without fuss or excuses – walk away. Without buying a business – at a minimum the information will be enlightening, and financials you are staring into a black you might just save yourself a whack of hole. Aside from the fact that you can’t money. Some of the points you’ll want to make any reasonable estimates without cover are: liabilities, buy-sell agreement, financials, you can’t trust an owner who and non-competition clause. isn’t responsible enough to take care of Due Diligence. Determine why the bookkeeping and accounting. Ideally, owner wants to sell the business. Underget three years of income statements and stand that most rational folks won’t sell balance sheets, as well as summaries of a business that’s spitting out sustainreceivables and payables. able profits, unless they’re ill or ready to Seek Accounting and Tax Advice.

retire. Aside from discovering why the business is for sale, there are a number of other issues that need to be checked out.

If you’re buying a corporation you need to confirm whether the taxes are paid and if there are any financial or other liabilities that are not reported in the financials. You may wish to speak with a few customers, past and current employees, suppliers, and vendors.

Get To Know The Business. No matter what you imagine, working in a business is sure to be vastly different than it appears from the outside looking in.

Determine what your days and nights will be like once you’re in it. One way to do this is to work in the business for a while before buying it – or you might work in a similar business to gain experience and perspective.

Bind The Seller To The Deal. There are at least two ways to anchor the seller to the deal: time and money. If desirable, you can make your offer subject

to the owner continuing to work in the business until you get up to speed. The second way to tie the seller in is vendor financing – making a portion of the selling price into a loan by the vendor/seller.

This means the vendor has a vested interest in the success of the operation after the sale.

Don’t get stampeded into a quick purchase. Every once in a while a deal might come up that is time sensitive, meaning you have to jump on it immediately or lose it. There’s usually no real hurry. Take your time, do your due diligence. If the current opportunity slips through your fingers, understand that other opportunities will come along. There are hoards of baby-boomer business owners who will be retiring over the next few years and lots of opportunities coming down the pipe. Don’t get spooked into buying without doing your homework!

Dan Boudreau owns RiskBuster Business Plan Oasis and Blog at www.riskbuster.com.

Free Press reserves the right to reject unsigned letters. Letters are edited for brevity, legality and taste. Contact Editor Bill Phillips, 250-564-0005

■ B.C. Budget

Mayor notes homebuyer credit Delynda pilon

newsroom@pgfreepress.com

Keeping spending growth at an annual two per cent average, increasing funding for health and school districts while offering tax breaks to new home buyers are a few features of the province’s new budget.

Minister of Finance Kevin Falcon said he watched with real concern as other governments lost discipline in controlling expenditures and who now have to pay for those mistakes.

“They are reaping the whirlwind,” he said in a telephone press conference Wednesday.

In B.C., the approach, he said, is to maintain fiscal discipline, and he pointed out that in nine out of 10 previous budgets the province has outperformed its targets.

Falcon is also promising the province will be back to a balanced budget in 2013/2014.

“We are protecting health care and education, but in virtually all other areas we are holding the line,” he said.

Budget highlights include a B.C. first-time new home buyer’s bonus of up to $10,000.

Prince George Mayor Shari Green said that was one of

the items that caught her three or four weeks we might attention during the budget hear an announcement,” she said. announcement.

The budget also offers a “A $10,000 credit to first time home buyers goes a lot senior’s home renovation tax credit of up further on homes to $1,000, and a in Prince George children’s fitness than Vancouver,” credit as well as Green said dura children’s arts ing a luncheon credit. address to the It also elimiKiwanis Club nates the provinWednesday. cial jet fuel tax However, she for international said she was flights. concerned about “It’s a great the one per cent Kevin Falcon news story for drop in fund- Minister of Finance the Prince George ing for advanced airport,” said education. She said now seems to be the Lindsay Cotter, media liaison time the government should with the airport. “It makes be fast-tracking programs us more competitive comso the province doesn’t face pared to the United States or a skilled labour shortage in Alberta.”

Cotter said the savings will the near future due to the equal about $2,000 per landresource boom.

“I’ve heard there are skilled ing.

“It’s pretty significant savworkers in the Lower Mainland who are out of work,” ings. It brings us more inshe said, adding having them line with other rates, which obtain employment locally is will make it easier for us great. “But I don’t want to to attract other carriers and cargo flights,” she said. displace people here.”

The decision to go with And she noted there was no announcement in the bud- eliminating the tax came get regarding the Wood Inno- after a discussion with YVR, vation and Design Centre, Falcon said, during which though she said she thinks they committed to an addithe city might hear some- tional 22 international flights if they were provided the thing soon.

“I’m hoping in the next relief, which translates to 150

to 200 more jobs.

“Based on that commitment we provided relief,” Falcon said.

Residents of the province will also be paying a higher price, again, for MSP premiums as well as more for the services provided by crown corporations.

Falcon said it’s really important to have a bit of perspective when discussing the increased MSP premiums.

He said prior to 2009 MSP premiums stayed the same for seven years.

This meant the government took on a growing portion of the cost.

Then, in 2009, a six per cent annual rise in premiums was announced over three years.

Now the increase is four per cent.

He added the province pays the cost of the premiums for 800,000 low-income residents, and many employers pay the full premium or a portion of it.

“If you look at it in perspective, it’s not unreasonable,” he said.

He added ICBC has taken a few hits of late.

The corporation got hammered, he said, in investment income, and bodily injury claims have increased dramatically.

Financial woes put Legion in jeopardy from PAGE A1

If the building sold, the Legion would move to a smaller location, something about 9,000 square feet.

“Then we could open with a new and improved version of the Legion, with new ideas too.”

However, without a sale in the very near future, Scott said the organization is about to hit a wall when it comes to paying the bills.

“The end of April is what we’ve estimated our wall is. At that time Command is going to have to take us over.”

Command, Scott said, is likely to buy the mortgage, pay the bills and pull the charter.

“They are highly

unlikely to do otherwise,” Scott said. “If we sell it ourselves, we can cut some deals and look good in the eyes of Yukon Command, and they will likely support us.”

He added they have already received support from Command, a bridging loan of $100,000, money now gone.

“As you can see, we’re digging a deep hole,” he said.

Scott said they approached the city just before the election about selling the Legion to it, however at the time there was a lot of talk about the city already owning too much real estate.

“It was not a good time to do that.”

And the new council

Budget wraps up from PAGE A1

operations.

The emergency services and civic facilities budget passed at $38.2 million and includes the $21.5 million policing budget, which increased by 6.5 per cent.

“If this was any other department people would be in the streets rioting,” Stolz said, adding council has very little control over that portion of the budget.

Representatives from the library had the opportunity to make a presentation at the meetings, and asked for just over $50,000 in additional funding, above the 2011 level they were asked to keep the budget at.

The library said the funding is the amount necessary to maintain services.

However, last Thursday, the Regional District of Fraser Fort George agreed rural users had been underfunding the library over the years and passed a motion to support the library with $50,000.

This money flows through the city, then goes to the library.

There was confusion among some councillors regarding the total amount the city would give, then, since it seemed as though the $50,000 was extra funding above what the city had budgeted.

But city manager Derek Bates said the budget already assumed the regional district would add the $50,000.

However, many councillors said they felt the perception at the regional district may have been the $50,000 would cover the extra amount asked for by the library.

Coun. Dave Wilbur made a motion the city support the budget, adding $50,000 from the regional district, rather than including it.

Council voted in favour of the motion.

is very reluctant to buy the building.

“They have no interest in helping us in that matter,” he said.

He added formerly the city purchased property for senior’s clubs then leased the premises back to those organiza-

tions.

Over the years the Legion has supported many local endeavours.

About $80,000 from the

Poppy Fund, which cannot be used to support running the Legion, is used to help veterans.

Scott said $20,000 goes

towards bursaries and $30,000 from gaming goes to various societies, from the Salvation Army to sports clubs.

In Focus

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Singh and Nash campaign in P.G.

■ NDP leadership

Four leadership hopefuls have now made a pit stop in B.C.’s northern capita.

DeLynda Pilon newsromm@pgfreepress.com

The private sector and environment can have a positive working relationship, according to Martin Singh, a declared candidate for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party.

Singh visited Prince George last week, stopping in at Books and Company to discuss his platform.

“I believe huge opportunities are being missed,” Singh, president of the NDP’s Faith and Social Justice commission and president of the Sackville - Eastern Shore NDP riding association, said.

The adversarial relationship is unnecessary, he said, since environmentalists know the problems out there very well while the solution to those problems often lie in the private sector.

Singh, who has a background as a businessman in both urban and rural settings, said he wants to broaden the conversation between those two groups.

He added he has three main goals within the party. The first is the environment.

Besides focusing on opportunities between the private sector and environmentalists, he said he has deep concerns about the Enbridge pipeline project.

“The whole process concerns me,” he said He added the NDP wants to make sure the process of consultation remains fair and transparent while the Conservatives seem to want to marginalize different groups.

“In a society of free speech, you are supposed to have fee speech,” he said.

Singh also said job creation, particularly entrepreneurship, is important.

“The Conservative party is currently lowering corporate taxes. I have two issues with that.

First, we will see it reach a point of diminishing DeLynda PILON/Free Press returns.”

NDP leadership hopeful Martin Singh speaks to supporters at Secondly, it is an inefficient business policy, Books and Company last week. he said, especially when it comes to encouraging entrepreneurs who will likely have to wait a few years before seeing profits.

“So we neglect other areas of need,” he said.

Providing financing and training for both employees and employers, especially when it comes to financial literacy, would be more beneficial, he said.

The national Pharmacare plan is another area Singh wants to focus on. Instead of doing another study, Singh said it’s time to look at the studies already completed, evaluate them, and then take action.

“We need to find out the impact and time line of implementation,” he said. “We need to look at where we are, where we need to go and the steps in between.”

Affordable pharmaceutical care is important to all sectors of the population, he said.

Singh said he was scheduled to visit Prince George earlier DeLynda PILON/Free Press in the campaign, however he NDP leadership hopeful Peggy Nash speaks to supporters at Books and Company couldn’t, so when another opportunity came up, he jumped at it. last week.

“I am making an effort to reach as many different areas of the country as possible,” he said.

Peggy Nash Keeping that orange wave moving west with fringes in the east is something Peggy Nash, who hopes to be the next leader of the federal NDP, wants to see.

Nash, MP for Parkdale - High Park, visited Books and Company Monday, meeting with party members and the curious in order to share her platform as she travels the country in preparation for the upcoming leadership vote.

She said the party message includes protecting the environment and promoting a vibrant economy as well as strong social programs and values.

However, those Canadian values are getting lost under the leadership of Stephen Harper, she said, citing as an example Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto accord.

“With Stephen Harper we’re never going to get to express these values,” she said. “Under his leadership you’re a threat to the government somehow if you disagree with Enbridge.”

She said Canada is losing good quality valueadded jobs.

“I see so many trucks of raw logs going down the highway and every time I see that I think ‘there goes our value-added jobs’,” she said, adding the same is true for raw bitumen and minerals.

These are the kind of jobs, she said, Canada needs to keep to succeed as a country.

“We need to defend the middle-class lifestyle then we can pay for those programs we all want,” she said.

Nash also spoke about health care, in particular the price of prescription medication.

“The fasting growing cost in health care is pharma-care,” she said.

Aiding with those costs and investing in seniors so they can stay in their homes as long as possible while offering long-term care remains important.

Improving and investing in the Canadian Pension Plan is one way to take seniors out of poverty, she added, rather than increasing the age for Old Age Security.

“CPP is rock solid. It is indexed to inflation.

It’s a defined portable benefit. The problem is it only replaces about 25 per cent of the pre-retirement income. What we need to do is gradually increase the benefits of CPP so seniors can retire with a benefit that allows them to retire with financial security,” Nash said.

Changing the OAS, she said, will penalize lower income seniors.

“We have to hold this government to account.

Don’t mess with seniors. We need to defend our pension system.”

Nash said she has been a long-time community activist. She worked as a labour negotiator and served as industry and opposition finance critic.

“I relish going toe-to-toe with Stephen Harper. We need someone who’s a fighter, someone with a proven track record,” she said.

She added the party needs a leader who can build, not only ridings, but associations.

“More importantly I want to reach out to the more than 40 per cent of Canadians who don’t vote and tell them that now is the time to get involved,” she said. “My plan is to build support to win the leadership and, in 2015, to give Stephen Harper the boot.”

www.pgfreepress.com

Friday, February 24, 2012

COLUMN: Waiting for those new eyeglasses that can do it all A15

Community

B11

One local RCMP member reaches a significant milestone A18

teresa Mallam 250-564-0005 arts@pgfreepress.com

www.pgfreepress.com

Free Press

Playbill Open House

There will be an AiMHi Open House today at 850 Kerry Ave. Welcome PG celebrates AiMHi as a welcoming and inclusive workplace. Diversity in the Workplace runs from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. for employers, 3 to 5 p.m.

AiMHi job fair.

■ Spa day

Special treatment for good cause Northern Women’s Centre benefits from UNBC event

Art Exhibit

There is a new photography exhibition at Artspace, above Books and Company. Envisioning Change – Prince George Women Share Their Experiences of substance use and mental health Photography Exhibit.

Opening night is Friday, March 9. The exhibit is open March 5 to 30.

Banned Books

Freedom to Read Week runs from Feb. 26 to March 3. Did you know books by great Canadian authors Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Timothy Findley and Alice Munro have been challenged or censored?

For a complete list of books challenged or censored in the last few years, see http:// freedomtoread.ca/docs/ challenged books and magazines February 2012. pdf. Then come in to Books and Company, pick up a banned book and see what all the fuss was about.

Te re s a M A LLA M / Fre e Pre s s

Feet weren’t neglected at the Spa Day held at UNBC on Saturday.

Teresa MA LLA M/Free Press

UNBC student Conan Winkelmeyer has his eyebrows threaded Saturday by Sukhdeep Bhatti of Jasmine’s Skin Care at Spa Day, a fundraiser for the university’s Women’s Centre.

Women – and men – got a little pampering Saturday at a special Spa Day put on by the Northern Women’s Centre at UNBC. The event was an opportunity to relax, socialize and indulge. Booths offered participants a chance to have manicures, pedicures, massages, eyebrow threading and hennas. They could also make natural skin care scrubs to take home. The event included live music, a Nia

demonstration and door prizes.

Spa Day is a fundraiser to support the work of the NWC, a non-profit organization which supports, educates and advocates for the diverse needs of women in northern British Columbia.

The centre offers information on recourses on campus and in the community and also provides a 24-hour safe place for all women in Prince George.

Ken Hodges elected to board The 65th council of the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP) officially took office Wednesday at The Art of Forestry – the ABCFP’s annual forestry conference

and AGM in Victoria.

This year’s president is Steve Lorimer, a Registered Professional Forester (RPF), from the Ladysmith on Vancouver Island.

A Prince George for-

ester, Ken Hodges, was elected to the board.

Hodges is a forest consultant with 37 years of forestry experience. His operational experience includes silviculture, planning, timber supply, harvesting, tenures and protection.

He volunteers extensively with both the ABCFP and his community. Ken is currently the ABCFP’s stewardship committee chair and has participated with the tenure task group and mid-term timber supply working group.

In the community, Hodges is a huge supporter of sports through coaching soccer and softball while more recently participating in teaching kids to ski on local ski hills.

Sub mitte d Ph o to

Potter Kathryne Koop creates works of art like the vessels pictured. She will be in Prince George on March 2.

Koop talks pottery ■ ART

Artist to host a slide show at the library

The Prince George Potters’ Guild is host- Crossroads: Directions in Contemporary ing a slide show and talk with renowned Classics. Other exhibitions have taken her work to the U.S., Hong Kong and Japan. potter Kathryne Koop from Winnipeg.

The artist has been the recipiShe will be at the Prince ent of several awards including George Public Library on Frithe First Prize in the national day, March 2 in the Jack Bryant exhibition, The Collection from Room starting at 7 p.m.

Maxwell House, Coffee Services.

The slide show is free and She has won The Marilyn Woloopen to the public. darsky Levitt Award for FuncKoop began work as a fulltional Pottery and her work is time potter after receiving her in many notable collections that BFA Honours degree from Uniinclude private, public, corpoversity of Manitoba. In 1981, she rate and government collecbecame an exhibiting member tions such as the governments of of the Stoneware Gallery, an Kathryne Koop Manitoba and Canada, the Art artist run co-operative which is -Artist Banks of the Canada Council devoted to the show and sales and the Manitoba Arts Council. of works in clay.

Together with four partners, Koop oper- For more information, visit www.pgpotates and manages an attached studio offer- ters.ca and http://stonewaregallery.com/ ing classes to the public. She’s also taught artists/kathryne-koop. many classes and given several workshops, both locally and nationally.

Her porcelain vessels have been exhibited The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in many shows including a national exhibi- board approved the following requests for Comtion On The Table, 100 Years of Functional munity and Recreation Grants: Ceramics in Canada at the Gardiner Museum • $1,495 to the Valemount Lions Club for in Toronto, as well as several shows at the liability insurance.

Winnipeg Art Gallery including Clay at the • $2,000 to Valemount Secondary school for

Grants approved

expenses related to travel to the provincial championships.

• $5,000 to the Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society for storage sheds • $50,000 Community Grants in Aid were approved for the Fort George Highway Rescue Society.

Ness Lake gets go-ahead for new gym better.”

Born said while they had some plans for a bigger gym, the timing wasn’t to do so right now.

“But then,” he said, “you don’t think your gym is going to burn down.”

The ground at the site has already been cleared of the remnants of the former

ALLan Wishart

allanw@pgfreepress.com

Ness Lake Bible Camp is getting a new gymnasium.

After the previous gymnasium was destroyed in a fire on New Year’s Eve, it didn’t take long for camp administrators to start planning for a replacement.

“We’ve been moving ahead on the plans for the last month and a half,” said interim camp director Will Born. “We just need to get the final drawings finished.”

The lack of final drawings wasn’t a big enough obstacle for Regional District of Fraser-Fort George directors to delay approving the construction of a new gym. In a report to the board for its Feb. 17 meeting, planner Heather Meier laid out the simple request.

“Efforts to rebuild the gym have begun; however, the proposed replacement structure

Free Press file photo

The remnants of the gymnasium destroyed by a New Year’s Eve fire at Ness Lake Bible Camp have been removed, and a new gymnasium will soon be constructed. will be larger than the original gym. As the camp property lies within the Ness Lake Development Permit Area, an amendment to the existing permit is required to allow a larger building footprint.”

Her report said the

camp owners would be working with staff to update the site map “to better reflect the existing and proposed development at the camp.”

The new gym will be built at the same location as the previous one, but will be larger,

Born confirmed.

“We’ve added washrooms to the gym, which it didn’t have before. We’ve kept the indoor climbing wall in there as well. We knew we had the space at the location, so we decided to build it bigger and

to answer questions about how to clean, care for and store heirlooms they have at home. Proceeds from this fundraiser go to support Huble Homestead/Giscome Portage Heritage Society for the maintenance and preservation at the Huble Homestead Historic Site.

The antiques appraisal event runs Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Artspace, above Books and Company.

Appraisals cost $10 each. Appraisal tickets are at the door and there is no limit to how many items a person can bring. When visi-

tors arrive, they can purchase their tickets and wait their turn while watching others have their items appraised.

It’s also free for people to come and watch appraisals during the day. For more information, visit the website at hublehomestead.ca or call 250-564-7033.

Antique appraisals at Artspace

Antiques appraiser Ted Pappas returns to Prince George this weekend to help Huble Homestead celebrate B.C. Heritage Week.

Feb. 25 and 26, the public is invited out to Artspace above Books and Company to have Pappas look at their treasures and tell them a little more about them.

Whenever he comes to Prince George, Pappas sees all kinds of fascinating and valuable items, says Huble’s operations manager Krystal Leason.

“He can tell owners what their object is and more about its history, how much it’s worth and much more. Ted’s specialties include jewelry, art and First Nations items, although he’s very knowledgable and can appraise almost anything a person brings in. If someone brings in an item he can’t appraise, he can put them in touch with an expert who can.”

Pappas can also appraise larger items like furniture from printed photos as long as the manufacturer’s markings are noted, she said. Papers are available, if required, for insurance purposes.

A Huble Homestead curator will be on hand

gym and site preparation work was already taking place.

“We’re moving ahead with the footings right away,” Born said. “We want to get the footings and foundation in place and the structural materials on site before the road restrictions come into effect.

“We’re moving

ahead at a very fast pace.”

If the weather cooperates, both for the road restrictions and the actual construction, Born says they have a target date set.

“We want to see a functional building by July 1. It may not be totally complete then, but we want to be able to use it then.”

Seedy Saturday is tomorrow

Seedy Saturday events celebrate the seeds that sustain us.

The Seedy Saturday event – Prince George’s 13th seedy adventure – is on Saturday, February 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Exploration Place.

Open-pollinated and heritage seeds that each of us grow, share, trade and save. Seeds that are part of our past and will be an important part of our future. The 2012 Seedy Saturday is part of B.C. Heritage Week celebrations for Community Gardens Prince George and The Explo-

ration Place, an event that brings together gardeners, farmers and food producers – and those wishing they were – to learn more about seeds and our local growing culture.

“We have a lot of different groups involved in gardening and food production in our community,” said Jovanka Djordjevich. “Seedy Saturday brings everyone together at the beginning of the growing season to connect, to learn and in a sense, gain a new energy for the season.”

The Exploration Place

Atrium will be full of gardening, environmental, seed and food displays from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be British Columbiagrown seeds for sale and a swap table for those interested in sharing open-pollinated seeds that they have saved on their own properties. Seeds for the seed swap should be labeled with the variety, original source of seed (if known), year harvested and contact information of the grower.

This provides important information to the seed collector and helps

share the story every seed holds.

Learning is a special part of this event and four free talks are scheduled: • 10:15 a.m. A Year in Seed Saver’s Garden with Wendy McRae: planning, planting, story, tracking your own seeds.

• 11:15 a.m. From Snips to Slips with Andrea Eastham. Learn about pruning basics and using snips from your trees and plants to propagate more trees and plants.

• 12:15 p.m. get lunch and join the no-host seed gathering.

• 1:15 p.m. Principles of Organic Gardening with Yvonna Breed

Learn about organic method of soil preparation, composting, crop rotation, cover cropping, mulching and disease and pest prevention.

• 2:15 p.m. Xeriscaping with Grace Morrice Learn about xeriscaping, principles of xeriscaping, plants, mulching and more • 3:15 p.m. National Film Board’s The World According to Monsanto will be shown.

There will be free presentations, family activities and displays.

Entry to the atrium and presentations is free. Lunch concession is provided by the Twisted Cork Restaurant. Seed trading, seed sales and more.

The Prince George Youth Soccer Association (PGYSA) is set to promote literacy by providing free books to players at the Rotary Soccer Field on Saturdays during the outdoor season.

The PGYSA Read program is a partnership with PGYSA, the

Prince George Library, REMAX, Prince GeorgeValemount MLA Shirley Bond and players for the upcoming outdoor season.

Before or after games, player will be encouraged to visit the REMAX tent to pick up a book of their choice and donate gently used books for

Cooking It Up

Te re s a M A LLA M / Fre e Pre s s

Chef Germaine Black prepares Caribbean delights Monday at First Baptist Church, part of Black History Month celebrations.

Youth can get their kicks reading another player to enjoy.

During the outdoor season, 2,500 players have scheduled games at the Rotary Soccer Field, making it an ideal location to host the book exchange. In order to create a book inventory, players are encouraged to donate books as they sign up for the outdoor

season. Registration runs until March 4, with the season commencing on May 5.

This program is the first piece of Soccer Saturdays, an initiative to make the Rotary Soccer Fields a gathering place for more than just soccer. Details on other Soccer Saturday programs will be announced as the season approaches.

“PGYSA’s goal is to provide players with the tools they need to develop as soccer players but also engage in partnerships to ensure they are able to work on other important skills as well including reading,” said PGYSA executive director Len McNamara, “Being able to provide the community of Prince George with access to reading materials is important for PGYSA and its partners.”

“PGYSA provides great programs for 2,500 young athletes and their families. That includes everything from a chance to play, to be active and learn from their coaches and peers and even encouraging young players to read,” said Bond. “I’m really looking forward to participating in Soccer Saturday in the months ahead.”

PGYSA strives to be a leader in soccer development in the interior and northern B.C. through above-average programming determined by its membership in the areas of player, coach and referee development. The partnership for the PGYSA Read Program fits perfectly with PGYSA’s programming goals.

Looking into the future of eyeglasses

I Spy with my little eye – the future of eye and spy wear.

One of my work mates at the Free Press was talking recently about having to get a new pair of spectacles.

For those of us with seeing-things-close-up challenges, you know the telling signs: You can no longer amuse yourself at the breakfast table reading labels on cereal boxes.

You find it more and more difficult to read newsprint. You never know – as you reach for a bottle of pills – if you have grabbed

launched at the end of aspirins or antacids.

2012.

Well, there are soluJust tions.

Tea about the Not just contact with time, I’m lens Teresa guessing, that the soluworld is tions. supposed I was happy TeresaMallam to end and our civilization, as we to hear about a new know it, will be gone. product from I think Anyway, I read – Google, that may help with my own muscle my vision problems. powered-eyes – that The forward-thinking the glasses are supcompany has apparposed to resemble ently come up with a pair of Oakley android-powered, Thumps, have 3 or augmented real4G connectivity, a fority, head-up display ward facing camera, (HUD) glasses that GPS and full array of are expected to be

movement sensors.

They will reportedly cost about the price of current smartphones.

Various writers (the one I quote is responding to a New York Times article) have mused about what life would be like wearing the futuristic glasses: “You wake up, shower and put on your ‘Google’ specs.

Latitude records your movement and marks you ‘awake’. Brushing your teeth in front of the mirror, Maps tells you there’s traffic on the way to work.

Guitar Gang

A llan WISHA RT/Free Press

Chad Brownlee and Hayley McLean play a guitar duet during the show Friday night at CN Centre.

More time for The Clockmaker Stephen Massicotte’s The Clockmaker has intrigued audiences at Theatre North West – but nothing lasts forever.

The show won’t be on for an eternity but extra performances have been added to meet the demand for tickets with the final performance March 1.

As always TNW reminds patrons that shows can sell out very quickly, even with an extended run. So it’s best to get your tickets as soon as possible. The Clockmaker is set to run until March 1 at Theatre North West in Parkhill Centre. Tickets are available at Books and Company or by phone at 250-614-0039.

Hopping into the car, Navigation shows you a different route to work. As you pass (donut place) Places warns you that the remains of a rat were recently found in a cup of coffee – but at the same time – Offers tells you that a cup of coffee and donut is only $1.”

The author goes on to say that while stopped at the lights, it would be possible to not only admire

a “hottie” crossing the road but to snap a photo and take a quick video.

Meanwhile your favourite tunes are playing in your ear and Wallet means you never have to reach for your credit card.

The authors sums up by saying Google could kick start the wearable computer dream – once privacy, security and ethical questions (such as taking pictures of people

without permission) are worked on. Taking out the little camera in the glasses is a good start – but you can take clandestine photos now with your cell phone, so maybe the whole issue needs to be talked about.

The first Google Glasses apparently won’t have all these features, just some.

Actually, I am hoping the first ones will come with a designer case and a manual.

■ Computer access

Skylab takes library service to a new level

Construction begins Monday on SkyLab, a renovation project at the Prince George Public Library that will add nearly 1,000 square feet of new space for public access to computers and the Internet at the Bob Harkins branch.

The upper level of SkyLab is a mezza-

nine floating above the second floor, which will offer computer stations with Internet access and printing capabilities. Comfortable arm chairs and other seating around the sides will let library users read and enjoy the amazing views inside and outside

of the library, including Connaught Hill, downtown and 15th Avenue leading up to UNBC. “By raising the floor, we give our customers great, never-before-seen views of the city without affecting the building,” explained chief librarian Allan Wilson. “At the same time, we’re creating a great new learning space for residents and a more efficient workflow for staff.”

An expanded training area for the library’s popular adult basic computer classes will be located beneath SkyLab. When not in use for training, these computers will also be

available for personal use by the public.

Since the library relies on grants from the municipal and provincial government for its operating budget, the library has to raise its own funds for necessary improvement projects, like SkyLab. “No municipal tax dollars are being spent on developing SkyLab,” said Wilson. “These nonoperational funds come from federal and provincial grants and generous donations and bequests from businesses and individuals, as well as fundraising efforts by our board of trustees.”

SkyLab will also

Sub mitte d

An artist’s rendition shows what the layout of SkyLab at the Prince George Public Library will look like on completion. feature a donor wall to recognize the generosity of local residents and businesses that have donated $100 or more towards making the project a reality.

IDL Projects Inc.is the general contractor for the SkyLab construction project, which should take about eight weeks to complete, at a cost of $187,200.

“The Bob Harkins branch will remain open throughout the construction period,” Wilson said. “The library will be a little noisier than usual but

all of our materials, as well as our computer access, will still be available for local residents.”

SkyLab is the centrepiece of an overall redesign of the entire adult floor at the Bob Harkins branch. New shelving has been added to start replacing the 31-year-old shelves that have been in service since the building opened. The 31,000 paperbacks in the library collection are in the process of being catalogued to help library customers find the books they want faster and

easier. Other parts of the library’s collection, such as mystery, large print and general fiction, are also being relocated to better organize the library for customer use.

The Prince George Public Library serves more than 53,000 cardholders in the City of Prince George and most of the Regional District of Fraser Fort-George.

About 1,100 residents visit the Bob Harkins branch downtown and the Nechako branch in the Hart Mall each day.

■ New Gallery

Griffith aims at young Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com

Free Press file photo

Helene Griffith will open her new gallery with The Mask Show, which starts Feb. 25.

Helene Griffith is a self-taught artist who does not believe in the concept of the “starving artist.”

Rather, she thinks artists, even young artists, can make a good living at what they do. Talking with the Free Press Wednesday, Griffith said that opening her own gallery is a dream come true.

“I’ve always wanted to have a place where artists, especially young artists, can take art classes, show their art and also sell it,” she said. “I want to really broaden their artistic horizons and let them do what they love – and also let them know they can make a living at it because I really believe you can do

Music festival begins Sunday Music is in the air, heralding, we hope, the oncoming of spring.

The Prince George and District Music Festival begins Sunday and runs through March 7.

Instrumental, Vocal, Choral and Strings classes are held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church from Feb. 26 to March 2. Piano classes are held at the Evangelical Free Church on Fifth Avenue from Feb. 27 to March 3.

“We have highly qualified adjudicators who will work with students in all disciplines,” said key organizer Wilma Romanin.

“The purpose of this festival is to give students of all ages a chance to prepare and to perform their musical selections. They listen to others performing at their same level and will gain knowledge and insight from the adjudicator’s comments. Students gain confidence from careful

preparation and performance.”

There are just over 900 participants in this year’s festival, she said. The most popular classes are entries in Classical Concert Groups and Contemporary piano music. There are a large number of Musical Theatre entries

in the Vocal section and several school and community choirs are entered.

The public is invited to attend all festival performances at the churches. Admission is free. Programs are available for $7 at Studio 2880 and at the door.

The Showcase Recital

is March 10 at 5:30 p.m. and the Festival Gala is on the same day at 8 p.m. Both events are held at Vanier Hall and will highlight a variety of outstanding performances from the festival. Tickets for Festival Gala are $10 and may be purchased at Studio 2880 or at the door.

that.”

The Griffith Art Gallery officially opens Saturday, Feb. 25 with The Mask Show, an open house and reception. Featured works include unusual masks made by local and international artists. There will also be refreshments and music.

“I will have some of my pieces in the show and there will be artists from Guatemala and other places. Artists are welcome to come by and meet other artists and anyone can sign up for classes.”

Griffith, who has lived in Prince George for seven years, says

she thinks there’s a need for another art venue here, particularly on the Hart Highway, which is not as accessible for some artists as the downtown area.

“Every month we will feature different local artists and also artists from around the world. It’s also going to be an art school and students will be showing their work every month.

We want to encourage them to sell their work at the gallery.”

The artist’s own foray into the art world began decades ago.

“I’ve been studying art, especially

masks, since I was very young. I studied with native artists in Alexis Creek and lived on First Nations reserves. I learned a lot from First Nations people about art, especially the importance of nature in art and the respect they have for nature,” she said.

Griffith Art Gallery is located at 7711 South Kelly Rd. on the Hart Highway.

The Mask Show reception begins at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25. The public is invited to attend.

For more information or to register for art classes, phone 250-301-3893.

■ Dare program

Medcke reaches 5,000

Photo submitted

Const. Debra Medcke helps a student read his DARE essay during the graduation exercise.

The students in a couple of classes at Harwin Elementary probably didn’t know it, but they were part of a milestone.

When the 29 Grade 5 students in Mrs. Wilson’s and Mrs. Wintermute’s classes completed their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, RCMP Const.

Debra Medcke reached the 5,000 mark in students she has instructed in the program in the past seven years.

She has taught the program in 149 classrooms at more than 20

schools in that time, teaching students about the dangerous effects of drugs, including alcohol.

Each class is a minimum of 12 hours of instruction, meaning Medcke has put in close to 1,800 hours in the classroom on D.A.R.E., not counting preparation and marking time.

“It’s my passion”, Medcke says about her time instructing D.A.R.E. With over 34 years of service to communities in B.C., Alberta and the Yukon, she considers her time instructing D.A.R.E. as

“the most enjoyable part of my experience as a police officer”.

Redirecting the focus on the program instead of herself, Medcke says, “I enjoy the program.

Children need the tools to make healthy decisions, D.A.R.E. provides those tools.”

As part of her duties as an instructor, Medcke has read an essay from nearly every one of her students. One essay, she recalls, was written with symbols instead of letters by a student who was not able to speak.

Many essays offered personal experiences, and almost all generated emotion.

Supt. Eric Stubbs, Officer in Charge of the Prince George RCMP Detachment, said, “D.A.R.E. is an important part of our drugprevention strategy. To have a member with Const. Medcke’s dedication and passion for the program is exemplary. The impact that she’s had on the lives of thousands of children through the D.A.R.E. program is immeasurable. I congratulate Const. Medcke’s milestone of teaching more than 5,000 students in Prince George.”

D.A.R.E. is a comprehensive drug-education and prevention pro-

gram designed to equip school children with the skills to recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. D.A.R.E. seeks to establish positive relationships between law enforcement officers, children, teachers, parents and other community members. Students learn a four-step decision making model that emphasizes healthy choices and a take charge attitude.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Choy, in charge of the B.C. RCMP’s Drugs & Organized Crime Awareness Section, said, “D.A.R.E. officers are the most important part of the D.A.R.E. program, and Const. Medcke’s commitment to teaching her students over the past seven years is commendable. Const. Medcke will be recognized for her commitment”.

For more information about the D.A.R.E. program in B.C., please go to the RCMP Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Section at www.rcmpda.com. To see how you can get involved with drug prevention efforts in your community, please contact Prince George RCMP Community Policing at 250-561-

For Bea Dezell, library service a blessing ■ Audiobooks

ALLan Wishart

allanw@pgfreepress.com

Bea Dezell loves to listen to a good book.

The Prince George woman has always loved books, but found she had to adjust how she dealt with them some years ago.

“I’ve been getting the talking books since Dr. (John) Konkal told me my eyes were getting worse,” says Dezell, who still lives in her own home at 102. “I had started reading the large-print books when my sight started to go, then I used a magnifier.”

Dezell, the widow of former mayor Garvin Dezell and mother of former councillor Cliff Dezell, says her first talking books came in a different form than they do now.

“The first ones came from the CNIB, and they were four-track tapes with a much larger player than I have now. They were mailed from Toronto, I would listen to them, then send them back for free in the package they provided.”

Then the Prince George Public Library started providing audiobooks, and Dezell loves the service.

“They’re delivered by volunteers, and you can get as many as you want. I usually get three books every two weeks, and I usually get them all read by the time the two weeks are up.”

Songs of Old West

It will be a celebration of the Old West at ECRA in late March.

The Forever Young Chorus will present Songs of the Old West for two shows. The first will be on Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, March 25 at 2 p.m.

A special guest for the concerts will be Laurie Meier, the winner of the recent Prince George 2012 Senior Idol contest.

Tickets for Songs of the Old West are $10 at ECRA, 1692 10th Ave.

She also still sometimes buys books and has someone read them to her.

“I like almost all kinds of books. I guess my favourites are historical novels and travel books. I used to travel a lot when I was younger, and I love listening to books talking about places I’ve been to.”

She says she doesn’t usually put in orders for specific books from the library.

“They pretty well know what I’ll want.

Most everything they send, I’ll listen to.”

She also enjoys the visits by the volunteers.

“They’ll sit and talk with me when they come. Visually impaired people need company, because we can’t get out as much.

All the volunteers like to listen, and I’m sure they remember what books I say I liked.”

Dezell says the audiobook service from the library is something more people need to know about.

A lla n W ISHA RT/ Fre e Pre s s

Bea Dezell checks to make sure her DAISY digital talking book is starting at the right spot in the Sue Grafton mystery she’s listening to. Dezell, at 102, is the Prince George Public Library’s oldest user of the home delivery service.

“I really feel visually impaired and blind people should

take advantage of the service. If they don’t, they’re missing a lot.”

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Friday, February 24, 2012

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Friday, February 24, 2012

MILLER: Prince George has its own Jeremy Lin story to tell B4

Sports

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The Cougars and Royals meet tonight at CN Centre B6

Alistair McInnis 250-564-0005 sports@pgfreepress.com

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Sports

Shorts Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings are back on the road.

Tonight, the team meets the Westside Warriors in Kelowna to begin a weekend in which they play three games in as many days. They resume the trip on Saturday against the Salmon Arm SilverBacks before wrapping up the swing on Sunday against the Penticton Vees.

Winter Games

Prince George athletes and coaches are in Vernon this weekend for the 2012 BC Winter Games. For more on the event, including a link to the results website, visit www.bcgames.org.

Roller Derby

The Rated PG RollerGirls are back in action this weekend.

On Saturday night, the Roll-A-Dome will be the site of a pair of roller derby bouts involving teams from the Okanagan Shuswap Roller Derby Association. At 6 p.m., the Gold Pan City Rollergirls of Quesnel meet the Candy Strykers. Following that contest, the Rated PG RollerGirls will play the Raggedy Rollers. For more information, go online to ratedpgrollergirls.com.

■ SPecial Olympics

Local skiers off to Winter Games

AListair McInnis

sports@pgfreepress.com

They support effort and achievement.

But the emphasis will be on fun for the Prince George athletes competing in next week’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in St. Albert, Alta. Why would it be any different? It follows the focus of a national organization’s mission of optimizing the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle to improve the well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Four of five Prince George athletes entering the Games have been training at Otway under cross country skiing coach Calvin Dyck: Barb Conway, Kim Erickson, Danny Lafrienere and Stephanie Tremblay.

“If you got this far, it’s great,” Dyck said prior to a training session on Sunday. “They’re all champions as far as I’m concerned because you put the effort in, you did what you needed to do and you had a good time doing it. You go there, you do your best, you be a sport about it, say thanks, it was good.”

Thom Ross, a coach with Special Olympics Prince George for more than 20 years, echoed Dyck’s comments.

“With Special Olympics, we don’t put emphasis on medal count. It’s fun. It’s fitness, it’s fun, it’s comradeship.”

Also entering the multi-sport event is Jennifer Germann, who will compete in showshoeing. The Games are scheduled to run from Tuesday to Saturday.

The Prince George contingent will join teammates on the provincial squad, who qualified during B.C. Games last year in Kelowna.

“I think they’re getting fairly excited. When you land on the ground in St. Albert, Alberta, that will bring things to attention because they’ll meet their other co-skiers that they’ve worked with, their friends,” Dyck said. “They’ll meet them, they’ll see them and they’ll be sitting there.

They’ll get excited.”

Training for the skiers this season dates back to the fall. Dryland training in October included runs up and down University Way. Then, the following month, Mother Nature provided a helping hand. “(The season) has gone very good because we got snow in November, and it’s the first time we had snow in November for many a year,” said Dyck, who noted that their first session on the snow was Nov. 13. “That was really, really an assistance and a help for us here to get started on the snow very early.

“December was a little cooler. We had a few days that were icy, cold. But that’s the way it is. We get what we get. That’s

A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s

Members of the Prince George contingent on Team B.C. for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games include skiers Barb Conway, left, Danny Lafrienere, Calvin Dyck (coach), Stephanie Tremblay and Kim Erickson. The national event is scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 3 in St. Albert, Alta. just the way it goes.”

Dyck has worked with the Special Olympics group in Prince George for eight years, and been cross country skiing for 15 years. He also made the trip to the 2008 Canada Winter Games in Quebec City. Of the four skiers heading to St. Albert, only Conway competed in Quebec.

While geography would suggest more spectators from the city

this year, Dyck said there wasn’t a shortage of B.C. supporters in 2008.

“We had people from Prince George out there and we were in Quebec City. Opening Ceremonies at night at minus-20, outdoors and stuff, and there was just as much support in Quebec City as there was at any time.

There was lots of support.”

Other sports in the Games include curl-

ing, figure skating, floor hockey and speed skating. Jasper will play host to alpine skiing events.

The Games are expected to attract more than 600 athletes.

A portion of the athletes competing in St. Albert will qualify to represent Canada at the next World Winter Games, set to take place in PyeongChang, South Korea from Jan. 26 to Feb. 6, 2013.

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Prince George Free Press

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Skaters enthusiastic about coming meets AListair McInnis

sports@pgfreepress.com

Figure skater Chelsea Raful knew for

a few months she’d be competing in this weekend’s BC Winter Games in Vernon.

But for anybody

participating in an event for the first time, the excitement of the experience never hits you until you arrive.

Alist a r McINNIS/Free Press

Spruce City Skating Club members Chelsea Raful and Justin Hampole are preparing for a couple of significant competitions over the next few weeks. Raful is part of the regional team entering the figure skating competition at the BC Winter Games in Vernon this weekend, while both skaters are going to the regionals in Quesnel next month.

The anticipation had been building, and at the Spruce City Skating Club’s practice at the Elksentre this week, the 14-year-old novice skater talked about hitting the ice in the North Okanagan.

Asked what she’s hoping to achieve, Raful said, “I’m not too sure, but I want to get a Level 3 footwork.”

Spruce City Skating Club director of skating Rory Allen elaborated on Raful’s routine. Could it win her a medal?

“If she does her job,” he said. “She doesn’t have a double axel in her program.

We’re working on it in practice, but we’ve decided to keep it as clean as possible, so she’s doing what she can do. But we want to get bonus marks on everything. We call that positive GOE, which is the grade of execution. We’re try-

ing just to keep the program simple and go for positive GOE and typical spins, stuff like that.”

Allen relocated to Prince George from Vancouver last April to take on full-time coaching and administrative duties with the club. A former national team member, he’s entered the BC Winter Games and Canada Winter Games as an athlete. He calls the Games a fantastic experience.

“For (Raful), it’s about improving the report card,” Allen said. “She gets a report card every competition and our goal is just to get better feedback.”

The only Prince George skater on the Cariboo-North East (Zone 8) team, Raful qualified for the Games at the BC/YT (B.C. and Yukon) Sectionals competition in Kelowna in Novem-

ber. The head coach of the four-skater team, Megan Swan, is another Prince George resident, while assistant Kelly Hommy calls Dawson Creek home.

Raful, a Grade 9 student at Kelly Road Secondary, has been a member of the Spruce City club for five years. She enjoys figure skating for the break from other activities it provides.

“It’s somewhere where you can escape everything,” she said.

Although Raful is the only Spruce City skater competing in Vernon this weekend, she isn’t the only club member making headlines. Ten-year-old juvenile skater Justin Hampole won gold at the Ogopogo competition Feb. 10 to 12 in Penticton, where he also passed his juvenile competitive test.

“He’s having an awesome season,”

Allen said of Hampole. “In just under a year, he’s moved up three levels, which is typically very unheard of. Skaters would typically move up one level every one to two years, so in less than a year, he’s moved up three levels.”

Hampole, a Grade 5 student at Lac des Bois, has been a member of the club for three and a half years.

“I’m focusing on my double lutz and my coach, Mike, put a double axel in my solo,” he said.

Hampole and Raful will be among the group of Spruce City members travelling to Quesnel next month to compete in the Cariboo-North Central Regional Championships, scheduled for March 9 to 11.

“I’m really excited because I know what I need to focus on,” Hampole said.

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Friday, February 24, 2012

De Jersey story parallels Lin Prince George - Sports - Free Press

was similar to most An old adage states, fans who had never “one man’s junk is heard of the 23-year old another man’s treapoint guard; however, sure”. This statement it’s hard not applies be drawn to in sports, his Lin-credprofesHart ible story. sional or Beat The Haramateur. vard grad As hartleymiller seemingly strange emerged as it may from nowhere to lead appear, there are paralthe Knicks to a recent lels in the journeys of seven-game win streak.

Jeremy Lin of the New He is the underdog York Knicks and Paul that most can relate to De Jersey of the Prince and cheer for with a George Spruce Kings. salary of just $762,000 It sounds farfetched compared to the league because one player is average of over $5 attracting international million. Lin, who was attention in the NBA not drafted, was cut while the other is just by both the Golden going about his busiState Warriors and the ness with little fanfare Houston Rockets, and in the BCHL. after joining the Knicks The analogy stems from where they started was buried deep on the bench. to where they are now.

There were indicaLin and De Jersey tions New York was were both labelled as going to let him go, “junk” and turned into but with star Carmelo “treasure”. Lin’s story Anthony injured, coach has become well docuMike D’Antoni gave mented. At the beginthe first American-born ning of this month, I

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A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s

Prince George Spruce Kings forward Paul De Jersey unwinds for a slap shot during Saturday night’s B.C. Hockey League game against the Nanaimo Clippers.

NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent a chance to log significant minutes and Lin seized the opportunity.

During the win streak he averaged 27 points and eight assists per game, highlighted by a 38-point game in a 92-85 victory over the L.A. Lakers.

Yes, he has cooled a bit, and yes, he is

committing too many turnovers and yes, he struggles at times defensively, but this player has defied the odds and has caused arguably as big a buzz (if not bigger) as Tebow-mania in the NFL. We don’t know where his continuing story is going to end, but Lin has given fans a reason to again pay attention to the NBA. Meanwhile, De Jersey is also a feel good story in his league. Like Lin, De Jersey was a castoff, as the 19-year old forward from West Vancouver was considered a journeyman prior to his arrival in Prince George. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound De Jersey had just 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points in his 93 BCHL combined games with Salmon Arm, Coquitlam and Burnaby. Today, he leads the entire league with 40 goals and 50 assists for 90 points in 51 games. That’s an astounding accomplishment especially when he is ahead of each player on the Penticton Vees, who are shatter-

ing the record books averaging nearly a whopping six goals per game.

It’s amazing the difference a fresh start, prime role and newfound confidence can make. Let’s emphasize that again: De Jersey has gone from 23 points in 93 games to 90 points in 51. He will be leaving the Spruce Kings after the season to join Providence (NCAA Div. 1) on a well-earned scholarship.

These rags to riches stories offer a refreshing change from the mainstream and bring a human element that the casual fan can relate to.

Yes, virtually overnight Jeremy Lin has become the Most “Linteresting” Man in the World. He doesn’t always suffer from mental illness but when he does it’s from Linsanity.

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the Opinion 250. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

Kelly Cup takes to ice for 86th time AListair McInnis

sports@pgfreepress.com

An experiment for the Kelly Cup hasn’t gone over as well as organizers would’ve preferred.

Hoping holding the annual men’s curling bonspiel a month earlier than previous years would attract more participants, the number of teams has dropped once again. It may be at an all-time low, as 29 participants registered for this weekend’s 86th Kelly Cup at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club (PGGCC).

The entry total may mark a significant drop from the glory years decades ago, when a maximum of 128 teams was met. But it’s similar to recent years. Thirty-four teams competed in 2011 and 30 in 2010. As recently as 2004, 56 teams entered the event.

The bonspiel had been held at the end of March, shortly before the start of Probably people can’t the offseason. In a meeting last summer, organizers get off work decided to try holding the this time of year. They’re Kelly Cup in late February.

This year’s total indistill working cates a lot of people weren’t too. That’s on board with the change what I’ve in weekend. But PGGCC heard a little curling coordinator Geof bit of.”

Magrath wouldn’t call that - Geof the only reason for the McGrath drop.

“Probably people can’t get off work this time of year,” he said. “They’re still working too. That’s what I’ve heard a little bit of.”

No weekend works for everybody. Before the change of dates, Magrath noticed that holding the bonspiel near high school spring break proved to be challenging, since curlers left the city on vacations.

Magrath said they’ll explore options for the 2013 event after this year’s Kelly Cup. They may decide to move the bonspiel back to late March.

“We’ll definitely reassess it, see what the best idea is,” he said.

Despite their challenges in attracting new teams, Magrath expects a competitive bonspiel this weekend. Action began on Thursday evening, with draws at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

“Whoever is going to play is going to have a good time for sure,” he said.

Magrath was working on the draws on Wednesday. He said they’d still have a bonspiel featuring five events. The top four teams from the A and B events qualify for the eight-team Kelly Cup draw, which begins Saturday. The Kelly Cup championship final will begin late Sunday afternoon.

‘‘

Shirt Signing

Prince George Spruce Kings forward Michael Colantone signs a shirt for Anataya Schnepf, 6, during an autograph session at the Dairy Queen off Domano Boulevard on Sunday afternoon.

A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s

Royals open homestand for Cougars B26

Friday, February 24, 2012

Prince George - Sports - Free Press

Free Press file photo

The last time the Victoria Royals played at CN Centre, during the Prince George Cougars’ home-opening doubleheader on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, forward Taylor Thompson was still a member of the Cats.

By no stretch of the imagination is the road from Portland to Prince George short.

But the trip must’ve felt especially long this week for the Prince George Cougars, who returned home overnight after the Portland Winterhawks hammered the visitors 8-1 on Tuesday night. Combined with a 7-2 defeat on Monday, the Cougars were outscored 15-3 in the Western Hockey League doubleheader.

The Cougars will try and regroup this

evening when they host the Victoria Royals (7 p.m. at CN Centre), the start of an eight-game homestand. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at the same time and place to wrap up a weekend doubleheader.

In Tuesday night’s game, the Winterhawks wasted no time getting the puck in the net. Only 2:52 into the contest, forward Ty Rattie opened the scoring with his league-leading 51st goal of the season.

He added an assist in

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the game and when Wednesday evening’s WHL action began, was tied with TriCity Americans forward Brendan Shinnimin (44 goals, 58 assists) for second in league scoring with 102 points. Brandon Wheat Kings forward Mark Stone led the league with 38 goals and 66 assists for 104 points.

Rattie’s goal only started Tuesday night’s scoring parade. By the time the final buzzer sounded, seven Winterhawks players enjoyed multiplepoint games. They were led by forward Brendan Leipsic, who had three goals and two assists. Derrick Pouliot (one goal, two assists) and Marcel Noebels (one goal, two assists) had three-point games, while Joseph Morrow (one goal, one assist), Troy Rutkowski (two assists) and Taylor Leier (two assists) had a couple of points each.

Brad Ross also scored for Portland, which leads the U.S. Division with 42 wins, 15 losses, two overtime setbacks and one shootout defeat (42-15-2-1), two points ahead of the Americans (4115-1-2). It’s a threeteam race at the top of the conference as the B.C. Divisionleading Kamloops Blazers entered their

Wednesday night home game against Royals with a 41-141-3 mark.

Forward Troy Bourke’s 12th of the season was the lone goal for the Cougars, who dropped to 19-38-0-2. With 40 points, the Cats are in the basement of the Western Conference, but only one point behind the ninth-place Everett Silvertips (16-34-18). Victoria carried an 18-35-2-4 record into Wednesday evening’s game. The Seattle Thunderbirds (20-37-1-1) have 42 points, as the four teams continue battling for the final two playoff spots.

Portland was boosted by a power play that went 4-for-5 on Tuesday night. The Winterhawks outshot the Cougars 40-27 overall and outscored the visitors 5-1 in the second period. Goalie Brendan Burke made 26 saves for the win, while Devon Fordyce turned aside 32 shots in a losing effort for the Cougars.

The Cougars have 13 games left on their regular season schedule. They play three more doubleheaders to conclude the homestand, against the Medicine Hat Tigers (Tuesday and Wednesday), Spokane Chiefs (March 2 and 3) and Seattle Thunderbirds (March 6 and 7).

Cariboo Cougars set for final homestand A lot would have to happen for the Cariboo Cougars to finish the regular season lower than second place.

That noted, they can secure that position this weekend at home against the South Island Thunderbirds.

The two teams meet in a Kin 1 doubleheader, games set for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m.

The Cougars have only four dates left on their 40-game BC Hockey Major Midget League regular season schedule, sporting a record of 22 wins, eight losses and six ties (22-8-6). With 50 points, they’re 12 behind the Vancouver North West Giants (284-6), who have already secured first place and home ice throughout the playoffs.

Second isn’t as rewarding as first, but it would give the Cariboo squad a couple of benefits. First off, they’d get a first-round playoff bye. Secondly, they’d get to play the best-of-three semifinal series in their barn from March 16 to 18.

The top six teams in the 11-team league advance to the playoffs. Of those six, the bottom four will play in the quarterfinals from March 9 to 11, the winners meeting the Giants and Cougars.

The best-of-three league championship series is scheduled for March 23 to 25.

The only team with a chance of overtaking the Cougars for second is the third-place Okanagan Rockets (18-10-8). The Greater Vancouver Canadians (18-12-8) also have 44 points, but with 38 of their regular season games complete, don’t have enough available points to catch the Cougars.

On a bye weekend,

the Canadians are getting ready to host the Cougars. The two teams meet in the league’s final regular season weekend, March 3 and 4 in the Lower Mainland.

As for the Rockets, they host the leagueleading Giants this weekend at Kelowna’s Capital News Centre before concluding their pre-playoff schedule against the North Island Silvertips in Nanaimo.

The fifth-place Vancouver North East Chiefs (19-13-4) sit two points behind the Rockets and Canadians. A little further down in points, it’s a close battle for the league’s final playoff spot. Three teams are separated by two points: the sixth-place Fraser Valley Bruins (15-14-7), the seventhplace Silvertips (16-164) and the eighth-place Valley West Hawks (16-17-3).

In another crucial series this weekend, the Bruins and Silvertips meet in Nanaimo.

Second-last at 3-267, the Thunderbirds

enter their two-game set against the Cougars already eliminated

from the playoffs.

The Cougars are coming off their bye

weekend. In their latest BC Hockey Major Midget League set,

they swept the Thompson Blazers in Chase, recording wins of 7-2

on Feb. 11 and 9-0 on Feb. 12.

I’m Open!

A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s

Duchess Park Condors Grade 10 forward Carly Frenkel sees an open teammate during a fast break against the College Heights Cougars on Saturday at D.P. Todd Secondary. The Condors downed the Cougars 54-21 in the basketball game, the final of the junior girls district championship tournament. This weekend, the Condors are hosting the eight-team zone tournament at Duchess Park Secondary. Games began on Thursday afternoon, with the gold-medal final slated for tonight at 6:30 p.m. A second final, in which the second of two berths to provincials will be awarded, is slated for Saturday at 4 p.m.

Black leads Barracudas B28

Prince George - Sports - Free Press

Friday, February 24, 2012

The Prince George Barracudas competed in the Speedo Western Canadian Championships for short-course swimming on the weekend.

Ten members of the

club entered the meet, held last Thursday to Sunday in Winnipeg.

They were: Danica Ludlow, Haley Black, Patricia Fortier, Samantha Bleackley, Bailey Hardy, Jessa Wing,

Claire Shrimpton, Sterling King, Sava Yungman and Harrison Lagzdin.

In the female categories, the Barracudas finished fifth overall.

Among men, they

ended up 12th.

Black had another strong weekend in the pool. On Sunday, she won gold in the 100m butterfly with a time of one minute and 0.23 seconds (1:00.23). She also took home silver in the 50m backstroke with a time of 29.62 seconds and bronze in the 200m individual medley at 2:21.16.

On Saturday, Black finished first in the 200m butterfly and fifth in the 200m backstroke. She also picked up a trio of medals on Friday, gold in the 50m butterfly, silver in the 400m individual medley and bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Other medal results among Barracudas, with times in parentheses, were: Ludlow - gold in 800m freestyle (8:45.69), silver in 200m freestyle (2:01.98), 400m freestyle (4:20.12) and 1,500m freestyle (16:57.91) and bronze in 50m freestyle (26.57); Sterling King - gold in 400m freestyle (3:56.42), silver in 800m freestyle and bronze in 200m butterfly (2:05.28) and 50m freestyle (24.23).

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Early Birthday Ride

A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s

Joe Mellott pushes his daughter Makyla, who celebrates her fifth birthday today, along the ice on the Outdoor Ice Oval during the City’s P.G. Skates 2012 event on Sunday.

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Prince George Free Press

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