YEAR IN REVIEW: A look back at our community in 2012 A12-15 Friday, December 28, 2012 A look at the best of Prince George sports in 2012 A7-10
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www.pgfreepress.com ■ TOP 10 STORIES OF 2012
A look at the stories that shaped P.G. in 2012 1 LAKELAND EXPLOSION AND FIRE On April 23, 2012 at about 9:45 p.m. many homes in and around the city shook. People reported seeing a fireball light up the sky. Within moments First Ave. was lined with vehicles, first responders had River Rd. blocked off and the news was out sketchy at first over the Internet and on the airwaves, passed from car window to car window and witnessed by others who ventured out, many with a loved one on shift. Lakeland Mills was on fire with flames ripping red holes through the night sky. The questions shot as rocket fast as the flames - how many were inside? Was anyone seriously hurt? Worse? The wait for answers, though not so long as things are generally measured, was excruciating for some that night. In the end, reports came back of one man dead, another three critically injured, and one of those men A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Fre e Pre s s would soon succumb to Fire rips through the Lakeland Mills sawmill April 23 ... the top news story of the year in Prince George in 2012 the wounds, and over a dozen more in the hospiand equipment. These areas are in the lower levels or But what was announced, that the evidence was tal with a varying degree of injuries. basement in both mills. compiled and would be referred to crown, left many Glenn Francis Roche, 46, and Alan Little, 43, both of Several updates came in periodically from Work- shocked. Prince George, were killed. SafeBC, which promised to keep stakeholders abreast Because the evidence may be used in a court case, Then the second question resounded, and it echoes of any information that could keep employees and it cannot be released to the public. today - what happened? work sites safe, with the statement that a final report However, information brought forward during the WorkSafeBC warned it would take time to complete the would be delivered in the fall. investigation which could prevent another incident investigation, which though independent from the one Updates did come in, even as the two who died has been released as soon as it was confirmed. Speinto the explosion at the Burns Lake mill, certainly had in the Lakeland explosion were buried, fundraisers cific details, though, continue to be withheld. to be looked at for similarities - after all, both mills were were hosted to aid their families and two devastated Meanwhile, Hampton Affiliates will rebuild the in the north, both cut bug-killed wood, both fires ignited communities tried to heal. mill at Babine while the Sinclar Group has not yet on the conveyor level where electrical and/or mechanical In fall the call everyone expected came. Work- decided the fate of Lakeland, though a portion of it equipment was in operation in areas contained by walls SafeBC was prepared for another press conference. continues to supply the Downtown Energy System.
Northern Gateway pipeline dominated all year long 2 NORTHERN GATEWAY PIPELINE The Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline proposal calls for a twinned pipeline to running 1,100 kilometres between the oilsands and a marine terminal to be constructed at Kitimat, carrying bitumen, a heavy type of oil, while the other line will transport condensate.
The Kitimat terminal will have two berths and storage for three condensate tanks, 11 petroleum tanks, and a radar monitoring system as well as first response capabilities. The project has many components, from building the lines through some of the most pristine natural countryside in the world, then transporting it by ship along a coastline know to be one of the most rugged in the world to its final
destination via supertanker to China. The Conservatives support the Northern Gateway pipeline. At a news conference in Vancouver Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: “We think it’s obviously in the vital interest of Canada and in the vital interest of British Columbia, as Canada’s AsiaPacific gateway. The economic growth we expect to have here in the future is going to be based on commerce with the Asia-
Pacific region and we think it’s important that we continue to diversify our exports through this province.” Conversely, NDP opposition leader, Thomas Mulcair, has described the project as dead in the water. Provincial liberal leader, Christy Clark, was criticized for her stance, or lack of stance, on the pipeturn to PAGE A3