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FRIDAYFEBRUARY21
BUDGET: Locals react to provincial budget
www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005
Union boss visits P.G.
Celebrating Black History Month
Arrest made in 2010 murder case
Sheri Lamb Special to the Free Press In an impassioned speech about workers’ rights, Jerry Dias fired up union members who showed up to hear the new Unifor president speak during his first visit to Prince George. Dias was named president of Unifor, the union formed last fall from the merger between the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers, creating the largest private sector union in Canada. There are 300,000-plus members of the new union across the country. Monday’s meeting at the Coast Inn of the North was the second western stop of a four-day, sixcity tour Dias and the Unifor leadership are on as they launch a new rights at work campaign to fight back against recent federal and provincial government challenges to union security. Dias warned the crowd of about 50 that they need to mount a unified front. “It’s not a time to be nice anymore because they are screwing with our futures,” Dias told the membership. Part of the Unifor strategy to combat the politics and apathy among its members is to educate them on the history of unions in Canada. Among the members who attended Monday’s meeting was Sylvia Leblanc, a member of the union through her employer Canfor Northwood. Leblanc said she came out so she could see what the new leadership’s vision for the future was. She liked
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Phone 250-563-6444 Toll Free 1-800-219-6327 910 Third Avenue, Prince George, BC Email polarrefrig@telus.net polarrefrig.ca
Prince George RCMP have arrested a man they believe is responsible for a 2010 murder in the city. Prince George RCMP Serious Crime members, equipped with a warrant, arrested a 20year-old man in Victoria, following an investigation into the death of Tyrone Myles Thomas, 39. Thomas was stabbed to death July 9, 2010 outside the 7-Eleven on 20th Avenue. At the time of the offence, the accused was 16 years old. Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, his name cannot be released. A charge of second-degree murder has been approved against the man.
CNC hires new president Henry Reiser, Dean of Trades and Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, has been hired as President of the College of New Caledonia. Reiser, who holds a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from UBC, will bring more than 25 years of applied research experience to CNC when he takes the helm June 1. “The future at CNC is very bright and I’m excited and eager to get started,” said Reiser, “With all of the resource-based projects planned in Northern B.C. in the near future, CNC is well positioned to provide skills and training across many disciplines, which will lead to good paying and long-term jobs for our graduates.”
INSIDE TODAY:
Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Cynthia Golden shows what batter for saltfish cakes should look like at a Caribbean Cooking demonstration Tuesday at First Baptist Church. The event is one of many ways Prince George is celebrating Black History Month.
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