Prince George Citizen - Thursday, October 29, 2026 by Prince George Citizen

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Back to Victoria MLA Rosalyn Bird (Prince George-Valemount, left) and MLA Kiel Giddens (Prince GeorgeMackenzie), celebrate their re-election victories on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Ramada. MLA Sheldon Clare (Prince George-North Cariboo) was also re-elected.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

NEWS

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Bird: Forming government means new perspectives PG-Valemount MLA wins re-election to second term COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

After a tumultuous two months, Rosalyn Bird is heading back to Victoria for a second term as the Conservative MLA for Prince George-Valemount, this time as part of a majority government. Bird received 6,597 votes on Saturday, Oct. 24, more than 3,000 votes ahead of the next-highest competitor in the four-person race, the largest contest in Prince George’s three electoral districts. Prince George-Valemount includes the eastern end of the City of Prince George and extends to the Alberta border through McBride, Valemount and the rest of the Robson Valley. “These past two years have brought difficult decisions and moments when my choices were questioned, sometimes very publicly,” Bird said at a joint election night party at the Prince George Ramada with re-elected Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens. “I’ve made mistakes, I’ve learned valuable lessons, I’ve gained perspectives that have made me stronger and more thoughtful. Most importantly, I have learned the tremendous value of knowing my own worth, standing true to my principles and having the courage to make difficult decisions based on what I believe.” During her first term, Bird held several caucus roles, including critic for citizen services, children and family development, community safety and integrated services, armed forces development and veterans affairs. She also served as caucus whip. On Aug. 25, Bird left the Conservatives to sit as an independent, saying British Columbians were tired of political infighting. About a month earlier, Bird told The Citizen that then-party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay had asked her to step down so Findlay could run for a seat

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Prince George-Valemount NDP candidate Carol Bourque (left) congratulates Rosalyn Bird of the Conservatives, who was re-elected, on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Ramada.

in the Legislature in a byelection. Bird declined. It was later revealed that a former Conservative Party executive had hired a private investigator to look into Bird and several other party members who had dissented from Findlay’s leadership. On Friday, Sept. 18, Bird was among nine Conservatives who had either left or been expelled from the party and crossed the floor to the newly formed CentreBC party. However, after Findlay resigned on Sunday, Sept. 20, and outgoing Premier David Eby called an election on Tuesday, Sept. 22, Bird and seven of her colleagues returned to the Conservatives to contest the election under interim leader and now premier-designate Lorne Doerkson. Speaking with The Citizen on election night, Bird said she hoped everyone was now on the same page. “Of course, winning government

completely changes people’s perspectives,” she said. “Folks are going to be highly focused on what they can do to improve things here in the province. So, I think that is going to be where everybody is looking and waiting to put their best efforts forward. “I’m not worried at all about where this caucus is going or how well it can work together. We will be a strong government, we will be a strong caucus and we will make British Columbia a better place to live.” As she joins a government caucus for the first time, the retired naval logistics officer said she wanted to make progress on health care, education, transportation corridors, trade and other priorities. Although she could not promise the project would come to fruition, Bird said she would continue advocating for her proposed inland port.

In early August, Bird appeared before the City of Prince George’s Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs to pitch an idea that would capitalize on the city’s rail lines, long airport runway and available industrial land, as well as increased federal military spending. Her proposal included a military logistics hub, an expanded foreign trade zone and an emergency response centre. The following month, Prince George city council voted to provide in-principle support for Bird’s proposal. Garth Frizzell, chair of the intergovernmental affairs committee, was elected mayor in the Saturday, Oct. 17, municipal election, although the new city council will not be sworn in until Monday, Nov. 2. Bird and Giddens attended Frizzell’s election night party to congratulate him on his victory. Frizzell returned the favour on provincial election night. “I’m always hopeful to have a working relationship with municipal elected officials,” Bird said. “The Valemount mayor has stayed in place, but we have a brand-new mayor in McBride, we have a new mayor here in Prince George and we have a number of new councillors, so I’m very excited about getting to know them.” Bird received 51.05 per cent of the vote, a decrease of about five percentage points from the 55.19 per cent she earned in 2024. BC NDP candidate Carol Bourque finished second with 3,774 votes, representing 29.2 per cent of the vote. Bourque, a health information management co-ordinator with Northern Health, congratulated Bird in person on election night. Reached by phone on Monday, Oct. 26, Bourque said it was important to show respect for the re-elected incumbent. It was her first experience running for public office, and she said she would consider doing so again. “When I made the decision to run initially, it was based on the fact that I wanted to get back into my community and make a difference,” Bourque said. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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NEWS

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Northern BC will be a priority, Doerkson promises BOB MACKIN Citizen Staff

VANCOUVER — Almost 14 hours after David Eby admitted to losing his snap election gamble for the NDP, British Columbia premier-designate Lorne Doerkson held his first news conference at noon Sunday, Oct. 25 in a downtown Vancouver casino hotel. The jubilant interim Conservative leader admitted he had not had much sleep after the Conservatives won a 64-seat majority on Saturday, a first for the party since 1928. It was a surprise fall comeback for a party that appeared rudderless and doomed in the summer because of internal turmoil. Leaders of the three main parties, including Doerkson, focused their campaign tours on the province’s highly populated southwest. But Williams Lake resident Doerkson said Northern BC is top of mind, both economically and socially, for his first 100 days in office. “The North has been very aware of some of the challenges,” said Doerkson, who was re-elected as MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin. “We’ve had conversations with groups such as the Council of Forest

CITIZEN PHOTO BY BOB MACKIN

Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson holds a press conference on Sunday, Oct. 25 in Vancouver.

Industries, and we want to get very busy, very quickly, on our forest industry to see how we can supercharge it. But, of course, we’re very excited about the opportunity for LNG and gas in the North. “Also, in the first 100 days, we will be putting together an expert panel to better understand our health-care system and put in place security and other measures to bolster frontline support in our hospitals, which is very challenging in the North.” He said it was too early to comment on potential cabinet posts for re-elected Prince George Conservatives such as

Rosalyn Bird, Sheldon Clare and Kiel Giddens. Doerkson’s first order of business after winning the election was to name Kim Henderson, who served as deputy minister to premier Christy Clark, chair of his transition team. Henderson is taking a leave of absence from her position as vice-president of Indigenous affairs and government relations with Trans Mountain. He said another priority would be examining the finances of the outgoing NDP government, but he had not decided who would oversee the project.

“I am going to be part of that,” he said. “I am very concerned about that, and British Columbians should be concerned. We’ve never seen debt grow like this in the province’s history, and it is a significant challenge for all British Columbians.” Doerkson pointed to the revelation that the NDP government overestimated natural gas royalties by $1.5 billion as a potential systemic problem. “If there is a billion-dollar error in our books, I am terrified to think what else might be there, and we are committed to working with every office we can deploy in this case.” Doerkson reiterated his commitment to repealing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. He did not rule out a fall session of the legislature. Asked about Eby expressing doubts on the campaign trail about his status as leader, Doerkson said that was an administrative detail that would be resolved. “I am thrilled to be the premier-elect of British Columbia right now.” Doerkson became interim leader on Sept. 21, the day after he returned from a vacation in Africa and the party’s leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who had been elected May 30, resigned.

Other candidates weigh in on the results after the vote CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE That was an amazing opportunity to be able to even have my name put forward as a candidate. It’s just continuing to ignite the fire within me.” Bourque said campaigning during a concurrent municipal election presented some challenges. She hoped the next provincial election would not coincide with another vote. In third place was Williams Lake-based yoga instructor and functional health coach Jodie Capling, who ran for the Green Party of BC. She received 1,502 votes, representing 11.62 per cent of the vote.

In a phone interview on Oct. 26, Capling said she had mixed feelings about the election. She was disappointed with the overall result but pleased that her party had increased both its total votes and its share of the vote compared with 2024. Capling said the Conservatives’ winning about 48 per cent of the vote provincewide while securing nearly 68 per cent of the seats in the Legislature illustrated why BC should consider switching to proportional representation. “If it were proportional representation, we’d probably be looking at like nine seats or so for the Greens, if my math is mostly correct,” Capling said. “I think if

there’s a government that has proportional representation, society has maybe a slower path forward, but it’s a path that’s true to everyone involved and not flip-flopping each time the government changes.” OneBC candidate Mitchell Lukoni finished fourth with 1,027 votes, representing 7.95 per cent of the vote. A former official with Bird’s constituency association, Lukoni had criticized her decision to switch parties. Reached by text message on Oct. 25, Lukoni declined an interview, saying he reserved Sundays for church and family time. However, he referred to a statement he had posted to the social media

platform X the previous evening. “It has been the most enjoyable time of my life fighting for common sense conservative policies in the place I call home,” Lukoni said. “With the second-highest vote share of all OneBC candidates across BC, you have shown that the need for strong conservative leadership is here.” Lukoni added that, despite the snap election call, the party had managed to field 30 candidates and that this was just the beginning for OneBC. Overall turnout in the riding was lower in 2026 than in 2024. A total of 12,923 votes were cast this year, compared with 13,382 two years earlier.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

NEWS

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Acute care tower post-election priority for Giddens He will represent PG-Mackenzie as part of new government COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The newly re-elected Conservative MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie says ensuring the acute care tower expansion at the University Hospital of Northern BC stays on time and on budget is one of his top priorities as he returns to Victoria as part of a majority government following the Saturday, Oct. 24, provincial election. Kiel Giddens, who was first elected in 2024 as the Conservative Party of British Columbia returned to prominence, earned 9,926 votes, representing 66.11 per cent of the ballots cast in the district, as he secured a second term. Speaking to a crowd of supporters at the Prince George Ramada on election night, Giddens said outgoing Premier David Eby had not expected the Conservatives to come together after turmoil earlier in the year. He added that British Columbians wanted change after a decade of NDP government. “What we’ve witnessed here is something very historic,” Giddens said in his victory speech, with re-elected Prince George-Valemount Conservative MLA Rosalyn Bird standing beside him on stage. “We have witnessed a Conservative majority government, something that defied all odds. It’s been 98 years since that happened in the province of British Columbia. We’re ready to get back to work to provide strong leadership for serious times, and we do have serious times right now.” Speaking with The Citizen on election night, Giddens said he believed his party’s forward-looking platform resonated with British Columbians. “We were very focused on the economy and jobs and making sure that young people have a future in this province,” he said. “When it comes to opening up our natural resources, that’s where I think Prince George and

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Newly re-elected MLA Kiel Giddens (PG-Mackenzie) speaks to supporters on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 at the Ramada.

Northern BC can really shine and be a part of leadership in the province.” The premier-designate and Conservative leader, Lorne Doerkson, lives in Williams Lake. Giddens said having a premier from farther north than is typical presents a significant opportunity for the Prince George region to be at the forefront of provincial politics. He said Doerkson had served as a voice of sober second thought in the caucus since the last election and had mentored many MLAs. Beyond the hospital project, Giddens said he wanted to help create opportunities for people who are struggling. “Our forest sector is struggling,” he said. “We need to do whatever we can to fight for forestry jobs and give opportunity to the new engines of our economy, which will also be in mining and oil and gas and other areas that the province needs.” For forestry, he said, that means

ensuring harvested pulp logs have buyers and keeping chipping operations open so Prince George’s Intercontinental Pulp Mill can remain open. He also emphasized the importance of supporting family-run businesses in the region. Giddens thanked the people of Prince George-Mackenzie for trusting him to remain their MLA and said he would continue working hard for everyone, regardless of how they voted. Prince George-Mackenzie is the northernmost electoral district connected to the city. It covers much of the northern and western parts of Prince George and extends north through Salmon Valley, Bear Lake, McLeod Lake and Mackenzie, as well as a portion of Williston Lake. Before entering politics, Giddens worked for TC Energy on the Coastal GasLink pipeline project and served in several ministries under BC Liberal governments. He was originally scheduled to run as

a candidate for the party then known as BC United in 2024, following the retirement of Mike Morris, but joined the Conservatives after BC United announced it would not contest the election. Since the 2024 election, Giddens has served as his party’s critic for labour. He defeated two candidates based on Vancouver Island: BC NDP candidate Ian McMahon and Green Party of BC candidate Teri Young, who received 3,532 and 1,517 votes, respectively. McMahon, previously chief of staff to the provincial forests minister, did not campaign and declined interviews with local media outlets. Young, who founded a software distribution company before retiring in 2008, told The Citizen that running as a candidate in a riding far from home was not ideal. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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NEWS

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Green candidate pleased to see party vote share increase CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Re-elected Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens (centre) is all smiles at the Prince George Ramada as he watches TV coverage of his party’s leader and premier-designate Lorne Doerkson deliver his victory speech on election night on Saturday, Oct. 24.

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However, she said her proximity to Victoria would have helped her lobby on the district’s behalf if elected. Reached by phone from the Cowichan Valley on Sunday, Oct. 25, Young said she considered the increase in the Greens’ vote share from 8.49 per cent in 2024 to 10.1 per cent in 2026 a victory. “I’m very pleased to see that there was that large turnout for the Greens in a deeply conservative part of the province,” Young said. She attributed the result to the work of party Leader Emily Lowan, who was elected leader in 2025 and won the Saanich North and the Islands riding on election night. Although she was disappointed by the Conservatives’ victory, Young said she believed Eby had reaped what he sowed by calling an election two years earlier than necessary.

“I believe that so often, these leaders end up in echo chambers and surround themselves only with people who are what we used to call ‘yes men and women,’” Young said. “People who only say what they want to hear.” Young said she hoped Lowan would bring more decorum to the Legislature and that holding a seat would help the Greens communicate their message to a wider audience. She also expressed hope that the party would fare better in the next election, when it would hopefully not have to contend with an early vote. Giddens received 1,381 fewer votes in 2026 than in 2024, when he earned 11,307. However, his share of the vote increased by more than five percentage points, from 60.92 per cent in 2024 to 66.11 per cent in 2026. Voter turnout in the district declined from 18,588 ballots cast in 2024 to 15,014 in 2026.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

NEWS

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Clare wins decisive victory with more than 70% of vote He first won PG-North Cariboo in the 2024 provincial election COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

All three of Prince George’s Conservative incumbents won comfortable re-election to the Legislature on Saturday, Oct. 24, but the MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo earned the largest margin of victory. Sheldon Clare earned 11,799 votes, representing a commanding 70.27 per cent of the vote. While that was an increase of only about 370 votes from the 2024 provincial election, it marked a significant jump from the 56.82 per cent vote share Clare earned that year. Reached by phone from Quesnel on Oct. 24, where he was celebrating his election night victory at Heavy D’s BBQ, Clare told The Citizen he was grateful to his supporters, donors and volunteers. “I think with a big majority comes a big responsibility,” Clare said of an election in which the Conservative Party of BC won 64 seats, compared with 27 for the NDP and two for the Green Party. “I think it’s incumbent upon us to make sure that we don’t ignore voices that are opposed to things that we want to do. We need to take everybody’s views into consideration when we make decisions, but at the end of the day, we need to do what’s best for the majority of the people in this province and for British Columbia generally moving forward.” Prince George-North Cariboo includes the smallest portion of the City of Prince George among the three local ridings, covering part of College Heights before extending south through Hixon and Quesnel and ending just north of Williams Lake. Clare said some of his biggest priorities for the new term include road maintenance, health care and building a north-south interconnector along Highway 97 through Quesnel. “One of the things that is a concern to

SHELDON CLARE/FACEBOOK PHOTO

Sheldon Clare visits part of his riding in mid-October in this photo posted to his social media. The Prince George-North Cariboo MLA won re-election on Saturday, Oct. 24.

me is the lowering age of the death rate up here,” Clare said. “The Lower Mainland has a much higher life expectancy than we do, and I want to look at the causes of that and find out what we can do to try to make that better.” Clare said a former MLA once told him that an election campaign begins the day after the previous one ends and that MLAs must roll up their sleeves and get to work. He said he had put in the work over the two years since the last election and had a great team supporting him. The crowd of about 40 people at his election night party was “incredibly happy to see that there’s going to be change,” Clare said, adding that “BC has an opportunity to become prosperous

and successful and well respected once again.” “I just want to say thank you very much to everyone who showed their confidence in me and the efforts I put in,” Clare said. “And then to the rest of the Conservative team, including my colleagues Kiel (Giddens) and Rosalyn (Bird), it’s been a lot of work, and I’m really looking forward to us taking our seats down in Victoria and working for the benefit of this province.” Clare was first elected to the Legislature in 2024 after an unsuccessful bid as an independent federal candidate in Cariboo-Prince George-Omineca in 2015. He unseated incumbent Coralee Oakes, a former BC United MLA who

ran as an independent after her party decided not to contest the election. Oakes is now mayor-elect of Quesnel after defeating incumbent Ron Paull in the Saturday, Oct. 24, municipal election. A former history instructor at the College of New Caledonia, Clare also served as president of the National Firearms Association of Canada for more than a decade. After the 2024 election, Clare was named the party’s deputy whip under former leader John Rustad. In 2025, he was appointed critic for environment, parks, emergency management and climate readiness. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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MLA drew controversy for recent ‘hanging’ remarks CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE He briefly ran for the party leadership in 2026 following Rustad’s resignation but did not make the final list of candidates after some of the people who signed his nomination paperwork were found not to have active party memberships. Clare drew controversy in September after a comment he made suggesting that some local election candidates “needed hanging” was leaked on social media. The comment was cited by the NDP during the campaign as apparent evidence of the extreme nature of Conservative candidates. It also drew criticism from Prince George Coun. Cori Ramsay, who was president of the Union of BC Municipalities at the time. “It was not intended as a threat or to encourage violence, and I apologize to anyone who took offence,” Clare said in a statement to The Citizen at the time. Denice Bardua of the NDP finished second in the 2026 election in Prince George-North Cariboo, earning 3,380 votes and 20.13 per cent of the ballots cast. That was a slight decrease from the 3,426 votes Bardua, a secretary with School District 28’s Indigenous education department, received in 2024. However, her share of the vote increased from 17.03 per cent. Green Party candidate Randy

NEWS

Thompson, a garlic farmer, finished third with 1,577 votes and 9.39 per cent of the ballots cast. That was nearly double the 866 votes he received in 2024 and more than twice his 4.31 per cent vote share that year. Reached by phone on Monday, Oct. 26, Thompson pointed out that, of BC’s three major political parties, only the Greens increased their vote totals compared with the previous election. He said the Conservatives’ majority victory despite receiving about 50,000 fewer votes than in 2024 highlighted flaws in the province’s first-past-the-post electoral system. Thompson said he was frustrated during the campaign by suggestions that the Green Party was splitting the vote, as well as by public appeals from NDP Leader David Eby urging Green voters to vote strategically for the NDP to prevent a Conservative government. “It seemed pretty pathetic, and this whole thing was his fault anyway,” Thompson said of Eby. Thompson said he was excited to see Green Leader Emily Lowan elected as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands. He said he believes she will do a good job of drawing attention in the Legislature to flaws in the incoming government. A total of 16,792 votes were cast in Prince George-North Cariboo on election day, including 36 rejected ballots. That was down from 20,134 votes cast in the 2024 election.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Conservative supporters watch results come in at the Ramada in Prince George on Saturday, Oct. 24.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

OPINION

Provincial results could be good for PG. But first ... KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

We owe you an apology. But first, consider this: Prince George has plenty of reason to be optimistic about BC’s political future. All three local Conservative MLAs have been re-elected as members of a majority government, and premier-designate Lorne Doerkson mentioned Prince George several times in his victory speech. That’s an encouraging start. But election-night celebrations can only take us so far. Now comes the hard part: turning promises into results. Our MLAs have an opportunity to make a real difference for the North. They need to seize it — and we need to hold them accountable. The Citizen fell down in that regard during the provincial campaign. In the rush of covering the municipal and provincial elections, we didn’t dig very deeply into Prince George-North Cariboo incumbent Sheldon Clare’s controversial comment about “hanging” certain municipal candidates. South of the border we have seen the cascade of polarization and the threats being directed at elected officials of both parties. Civil discourse and respect are fundamental to good governance. CITIZEN EDITORIAL CARTOON BY MICHAEL KAST

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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OPINION

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Our three MLAs have an opportunity to show real leadership CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Clare’s comment deserved far more attention than we gave it. We won’t let that happen again, which means paying closer attention to Clare’s statements and actions than we have in the past, even more than we should with every candidate and elected official we cover. Clare was re-elected with more than 70 per cent of the vote, the highest among our three MLAs. That’s a strong mandate, but it’s no free pass. If anything, that decisive a win makes his responsibility to represent all his constituents even greater — including people who didn’t vote for him. And that representation needs to come with more dignity than he’s shown in the past. Clare acknowledged on election night that a big majority comes with a big responsibility. He said elected officials shouldn’t ignore people who disagree with them and must consider opposing views when making decisions. We agree. Now we expect him to follow through. Our other two MLAs give us plenty to be optimistic about. Rosalyn Bird (Prince George-Valemount) has been transparent about leaving the Conservative caucus during Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s tumultuous leadership and then returning to the party

when the election was called. People reacted to her moves in two ways. Some call her opportunistic. Others consider her savvy. In the end, we think Bird ended up on the right side of history with both decisions. She made her choices, explained her reasoning for leaving and then returned to a significantly changed party that voters have now entrusted with governing the province. What matters most is what she does next. We’re particularly interested in seeing Bird advance some of her more ambitious ideas, including a proposed military, supply and logistics hub in Prince George. Now that her party is in government, she’s in a better position to push proposals that could create jobs, attract investment and strengthen the region’s economy. We also want to commend Kiel Giddens (Prince George-Mackenzie) for consistently rising above the political drama and putting his constituents first. His comments on election night focused on hope, opportunity and the next generation. Those are the right priorities, and we hope he sticks with them as his party settles into government. Giddens won re-election in Prince George-Mackenzie with just over 66 per cent of the vote. Like Clare and Bird, he

now has the opportunity to turn that local support into real influence at the provincial level. We Northern communities have, for a long time, wondered if our concerns rank high enough on the provincial government’s priority list. Decisions about transportation, health care, resource development, housing, public safety and economic diversification can have very different consequences north of Hope than they do in Metro Vancouver or Victoria. With the BC Conservatives now holding a majority, our three MLAs have a chance to take on leadership roles. It would be great if that meant cabinet appointments or other prominent positions, but it doesn’t have to. What matters is that Prince George has meaningful voices in the decisions which affect us. Doerkson’s repeated references to Prince George during his victory speech were encouraging. As the MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, he has experience representing communities outside the Lower Mainland. His rise to premier-designate gives us reason to hope that he understands the challenges facing Northern BC. Bird, Clare and Giddens must make the case that investing in Prince George benefits the entire province, not just the people who live here.

And they need to be willing to challenge their own government when its decisions fall short of what Northern communities need. It could mark the beginning of a new era in which the North gets the attention it deserves. That isn’t the sole responsibility of our MLAs, though. Mayor-elect Garth Frizzell and the members of Prince George’s newly rebooted city council must make PG’s case, set clear priorities and demand action from the province Your Citizen has a role to play, too. As Prince George’s newspaper of record, we will continue to ask the tough questions, follow up on promises and scrutinize those we’ve covered from campaign trail to elected office. We’ll celebrate progress when it happens, but we won’t let that stop us from pointing out failures. We’ll give credit where it’s due and keep pressing when your politicians evade the questions or their answers don’t add up. That’s part of our job, and it’s one we take seriously. The Conservatives have won the mandate to govern. Prince George has been handed an opportunity to be heard. The opportunity is there. It’s up to our MLAs to turn opportunity into action — and up to all of us to make sure they do.

CITIZEN GRAPHIC BY COLIN SLARK

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

OPINION Conservatives sweep Prince George ridings as Conservatives win majority DD22 Congrats to the winners! BC is making a much-needed course correction. The NDP made its contributions: built a lot of new schools, lowered ICBC rates, tried to further reconciliation in a meaningful way, etc. But economic growth is stagnating due to frivolous red tape and silly regulations. It’s time for a new government and some growth in resource development. Maybe the Conservatives can bring more wealth to the economy and improve health care and the paycheques of British Columbians. Let’s all hope so. Chestor It is a great day for BC. Now for them to do what they say they want to do and not lose sight of where their roots are. We needed the South Coast to get them elected, but they are truly a more rural party, I think. Prince George and Northern BC are priorities: Doerkson Fred Vinson Just want to say a huge THANK YOU to Diane Black, Rosalyn Bird, Sheldon Clare and Kiel Giddens for their dedication to constituents in the Central Interior, and to Lorne Doerkson in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. A heartfelt thanks! EDITORIAL: Prince George votes for new direction at city hall HeeHaw There are many issues to

address. With the Little Prince steam train having been parked, what’s its future under the new council? Renoguy24 I note an anticipated loss of revenue because Northwood closed. Is any individual going to receive a lower tax bill from the city because they are unemployed due to this closure? The land and buildings still exist, so why should taxes vanish? My property assessment values are nominally two-!fths the building and three-!fths the land, and vacancy does not reduce the tax bill. Why does a corporation get breaks the average citizen has zero chance of getting?

Hopefully, they will realize that they need to dig deeper within themselves and stop adhering to the same “solutions” so they can improve things for EVERYONE in Prince George — taxpayers included. EDITORIAL: Why the next council should triage public safety R. Nich Please don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the !re department and all they do. However, in reality, how many more !re!ghters and bylaw of!cers do we need? We are de!nitely short of police of!cers. The city needs to revisit its policy of sending a fully staffed !re truck to medical emergencies.

know what that RCMP budget is going toward, but it’s not traf!c enforcement, and these drivers are by far the greatest risk I face day to day. BGeez Good job, RCMP! PG drivers are terrible: inability to use their turn signals, so you have to guess which way they’re turning; tailgating; speeding; driving too slowly; not understanding the difference between yield and merge. Just awful. And what’s the hurry in going anywhere in this small city in the middle of nowhere? Where are you rushing to that’s so important? Duchess Park Dog Park renamed in honour of animal advocate MonaA.

I look forward to a council that can work together more often than not.

This costs an exorbitant amount of money. Couple that with an ambulance or two showing up, and you have a huge bill for taxpayers to cover.

Hopefully, spending on large projects will:

Just my humble opinion, for what it’s worth.

R. Nich

Kimetheus

Involve more direct public feedback before a project is approved. Include upfront transparency about costs. Who can forget the George Street underground parkade debacle that ended up costing taxpayers approximately three times what it was proposed to cost? Reflect an authentic understanding that building more and more impressive infrastructure in the downtown core does not solve the issues of crime, homelessness and helping those struggling with addiction.

Ghost cruisers catch speeders in PG construction zones Helmholtz Watson Foothills is a raceway at certain times of day, and people who aren’t driving 20 km/h over the limit are rare at the best of times. I stopped using the red-light crosswalk some time ago, after more than a dozen incidents of people running the light while I was crossing. They’re at least more predictable when they’re barreling down the road like it’s a highway. I’ve never seen a single person pulled over there, ever. I don’t

What a wonderful way to honour our late friend Kathi. Her support for her community is sadly missed. Awe, what an honour. She was an amazing advocate for the humane treatment of animals, no doubt about it. Sure do miss her. Nothing like a story about a book-chucking ghost to get you in the Halloween spirit CavebabyK Okay … now THIS is why I “subscribe” to The Citizen. I love a feel-good story, especially one of the “spooky” variety. Thanks, Christine.

Share your views on our stories at pgcitizen.ca

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

The Publisher, Cameron Stolz; Managing Editor, Kennedy Gordon; and the entire staff would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the newly elected representatives who will serve our region and community M.L.A.s

Rosalyn Bird; Prince George-Valemount Sheldon Clare; Prince George-North Cariboo Kyle Giddens; Prince George-Mackenzie Prince George Mayor

Garth Frizzell Prince George City Council

Brian Skakun Dan McLaren

Nicole Fraser Trudy Klassen Dan Pears Cori Ramsay James Steidle Bob Radloff

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG)

Victor Mobley - Electoral Area A (Salmon River and Lakes) Lara Beckett - Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako) Ken G. Schinkel - Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek) Art Kaehn - Electoral Area E (Woodpecker-Hixon) Gary A. Jamieson - Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser) Jerrilyn R. Kirk - Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip) Dannielle Alan - Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe) School District 57 Trustees

Sarah Holland

Shar McCrory Erica McLean Don Sabo Jake Skakun Tianna Klein - Mackenzie (Electoral Area No. 2) Bob Thompson - Robson Valley (Electoral Area No. 3)

Here’s to making Prince George and Region the best in BC!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

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Ambitious cross-Canada canoe trek nears Prince George ED HITCHINS

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

FORT ST. JOHN, BC — With their end goal in sight, two canoeists with the ambitious goal of travelling across Canada made a stop in the Peace region this week. Will Vyse and Nolan Aziz began their Canada by Canoe initiative in April in Quebec and are taking a northern route across the country. A third canoeist, Georges Kirijian, began the journey with Vyse and Aziz before injuring his shoulder early in the trip. He may join them for the final stretch. The pair travelled along the Peace River and spoke with Energeticcity.ca on Oct. 13. They hope to finish their 8,000-kilometre cross-country journey by the end of November, with Vancouver’s Wreck Beach as their final destination. As of the time this paper went to press, they were a few days north of Prince George on the Fraser River. While canoeing across Canada to raise funds may seem unorthodox to some, Aziz said their years of experience prepared them for the journey. “We have been canoeing for years. We both grew up doing canoe trips and being outside,” Aziz said. “We wanted to kind of combine our passion for canoeing with being able to help people in northern communities.” As they attempt to establish a new world record for the longest single-season canoe trip, the pair has also witnessed challenges faced by residents of Canada’s northernmost communities. Aziz described people in the remote North as “the nicest people in the world,” who are willing to “quite literally give you the shirt off their back.” “They will do anything they can,” Aziz said. “If it’s a cold, rainy day, they will let you set up a tent under a little outdoor shelter they have, or bring you a hot drink.” However, the pair has also seen the difficulties faced by people living in northern communities. “You see a lot of struggles and

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY KAI MORGAN

Nolan Aziz (left) and Will Vyse canoed the Peace River this week as part of their Canada by Canoe initiative.

challenges that people in northern communities face, and the communities themselves as well, such as less access to health care and higher prices for groceries,” Aziz said. Beginning in mid-April in Tadoussac, Quebec, where the St. Lawrence River meets the Atlantic Ocean, Vyse and Aziz are approaching 200 days in their canoe. They began planning the trip in 2021, working on training, mapping their route and securing sponsorships. “We spent about three and a half years alone just planning out the route and refining the details,” Vyse said. “People have canoed across the country before, but we’re taking a new route that’s a bit longer, a bit more remote and further north.” Aziz described their route as “incredible.” It has taken them from the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes to White Mud Falls in Manitoba and past Saskatchewan’s famed Athabasca Sand Dunes.

As they ventured into the Williston Lake Reservoir this week, they had their first opportunity to see the Rocky Mountains on the horizon. “It’s really all over the map, seeing all the different landscapes,” Aziz said. “It’s an incredible country.” The pair has relied heavily on freezedried food and has drunk water from waterways, although they carried water jugs while travelling along the Peace River. Both said they are “up before the sun,” with breaks for snacks and meals. They estimate they paddle for up to 11 hours a day. Their journey also has a charitable goal: raising up to $1 million for True North Aid, an organization that provides humanitarian assistance to remote northern Indigenous communities. The charity focuses on eight “foundational stones” of support, including self-determination, reconciliation,

water, food, health, housing, culture and recreation. According to Aziz, the partnership began when Vyse simply sent the organization an email. “They’ve been incredibly helpful so far,” Vyse said. “True North Aid helped us a little bit with some of our logistics, such as mailing some of our resupplies to different drop points, and we keep in touch with them. They have organized the end of our trip.” “We are quite close with the team at True North Aid,” he added. From the Peace River and Hudson’s Hope, Vyse and Aziz will continue toward Prince George before heading to their final destination at Wreck Beach. To donate or follow the team’s progress through live tracking, visit the Canada by Canoe website at https:// www.canadabycanoe.com/home This article originally appeared on EnergeticCity.ca

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Sentencing coming for unlawful confinement BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Almost a year after pleading guilty to sexual assault and unlawful confinement, a 32-year-old man will be sentenced on Nov. 30 by a BC Supreme Court judge in Prince George. After hearing from Crown and defence lawyers on Oct. 26, Justice Christopher Giaschi set the date for his decision on Brandon Daniel McMaster, who admitted having intercourse with a woman who did not consent and keeping her against her will during a heated argument in December 2023. “Considering the gravity of the offence and Mr. McMaster’s personal responsibility, and considering his previous criminal convictions, a two-and-a-half year sentence would be an appropriate sentence,” Crown prosecutor Angie Murray told Giaschi. Court heard that McMaster met the woman on a dating app and they had a relationship between September 2022 to December 2023. It broke down in November 2023 and they briefly reconciled when she discovered she was pregnant. Police arrested McMaster after the confined woman texted her mother from inside a closet where she hid from McMaster. The victim was found in traumatic shock, needed medical attention and treatment for a sexually transmitted disease. Murray said the sexual assault should be a two-year jail sentence and unlawful confinement six months consecutive. Murray said it is necessary for McMaster to be incarcerated because a conditional sentence order “would endanger the community.” A pre-sentencing report deemed McMaster an above average risk for sexual reoffending due to problematic attitudes toward women and impulsivity. Defence lawyer Mark Berry argued for a total sentence of two years, less a day, in the community, including house

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A man who was found guilty of sexual assault and unlawful confinement last year will be sentenced next month.

arrest and curfew, followed by three years probation. Berry said his client, who is Indigenous, “has turned himself into a productive member of society.” Berry called the psychological report flawed due to inconsistencies and urged Giaschi to look at McMaster’s actions, including “exactly zero incidents of sexual recidivism” during three years on bail. Murray recited a statement from McMaster’s victim that said she used to be social and outgoing, but is “constantly looking over my shoulder as I’m always afraid of being attacked, kidnapped, or hurt. I’m afraid every time I leave the house, so I tend to not go out very much.” In his statement, McMaster said he felt isolated and struggled emotionally, and became possessive, after believing the woman had been unfaithful. McMaster said he is sorry for his actions and will continue to work on bettering himself every day, because being labelled a sex offender is hard on his mental health. “I know I should have left the moment I knew I had been cheated on, though I stayed trying to hold something together that didn’t exist,” McMaster said.

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Jail time for men involved in beating near courthouse BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two men were each sentenced to six years and four months in prison for what a judge described as a vicious beating in an alley near the Prince George Courthouse in 2025. Jesse Orlando Ferguson, 32, and James Daniel Munro, 48, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to aggravated assault in Prince George Provincial Court. The attack began at 10:55 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. They were among four men who severely beat the victim for almost two minutes, striking and kicking him, primarily in the head. Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall said surveillance video seized from KMS Tools and Canco Gas Bar was of good quality. Rather than showing it in court, he provided a blow-by-blow description of the attack, which left the victim with brain damage requiring round-the-clock care. Associate Chief Judge Paul Dohm said the victim initially tried to defend himself but soon became “defenceless, motionless and likely unconscious” during the beating, which also involved a small sledgehammer-type tool. During the attack, Ferguson jumped into the air with both feet and landed on the victim’s head.

An unidentified man involved in the attack fist-bumped Munro and another man as they left the area. The victim remained in the alley in need of medical attention while the four men changed their clothing near a dumpster. Munro and the unidentified man returned to search the victim’s pockets. Munro then returned again, kicked the victim in the face three times, picked up a rock and threw it at him. “The beating and extreme violence inflicted on (the victim) by these four assailants can be described as prolonged, brutal, shocking, vicious and disturbing,” Dohm said. “They displayed no care or concern whatsoever for (the victim’s) well-being or even his life.” Police discovered the victim two hours later and rushed him to hospital. Doctors diagnosed a brain bleed, and he was placed in a medically induced coma. He remained in hospital with a severe traumatic brain injury that left him permanently disabled, with the mental capacity of a three-year-old. He now requires round-the-clock care with his family in Alberta. Dohm said Ferguson, an Indigenous man from the Blackfoot Nation, expressed remorse through his lawyer and was horrified when he watched the surveillance video. Munro has opioid use disorder.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Two men who carried out a beating near the city’s courthouse were inside the building to plead guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 21.

“Their culpability is only lowered somewhat by virtue of their backgrounds and the substance misuse that they were suffering. As well, in the case of Mr. Ferguson, his Indigenous background also does reduce his moral culpability somewhat,” Dohm said. Dohm said the significant violence inflicted on an innocent man aggravated the crime. He sentenced both men to eight years

in prison but credited them with 407 days spent in custody, enhanced to 611 days under the time-and-a-half rule. The resulting sentence for each man was 2,309 days, or almost 76 months. “I wish the best to you, Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Munro,” Dohm said. “Use your time wisely while you’re incarcerated. Do everything you can to improve yourself instead of getting into trouble. That’s the way you’ll get early release.”

Bear-spraying grocery worker leads to probation for teen BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 16-year-old who bear-sprayed a clerk in the face at PG Grocery Express is serving a year of probation after pleading guilty to assault with a weapon. The boy, who cannot be named under the conditions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared Thursday, Oct. 23, in Prince George Provincial Court. A group of three male and three female teenagers entered the store at

about 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. T he clerk believed one of them had stolen items, so he confronted the teenagers while holding a two-by-four and asked them to leave. They complied, but within seconds of leaving, one youth returned to the store and bear-sprayed the clerk. The incident was clearly captured on store surveillance footage, which was played in court before Judge Charles Hutchinson. About 10 minutes after the assault, an RCMP officer arrested the boy

near the store and seized bear spray from the front pocket of his hoodie. A pre-sentence report said he was under the influence of alcohol and pills he believed to be Percocets, a pain reliever containing oxycodone. Defence lawyer Connor Carleton said his client, the 16-year-old son of a status Cree First Nation member, had no criminal history and did not have a “clear recollection” of what he had done. “He had been consuming alcohol at a much higher rate than, it’s weird to say, than a 15-year-old should,”

Carleton said. “However, it was really one of his first experiences with blackout-level or extreme intoxication, which obviously resulted in these charges.” Hutchinson ordered the boy to complete 60 hours of community work service by October 2026, possess no weapons or intoxicants, and stay at least 25 metres away from the store and a specific employee. “The use of bear spray, especially in confined space, can potentially be very hazardous to somebody’s health,” Hutchinson said.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

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Online sports gambler’s conviction upheld by judge BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge has upheld the conviction of a man who assaulted a woman in Williams Lake during an argument about his sports gambling in May 2023. Kyle Eric Warman, born in 1984, was convicted in Provincial Court on July 17, 2025, of assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. He received a six-month conditional sentence, 18 months of probation and a five-year ban on possessing firearms. Warman unsuccessfully appealed Judge Sabena Thompson’s verdict. In an oral ruling on Oct. 22, Justice Steven Wilson dismissed Warman’s application for a new trial. Defence lawyer Jeff Maxwell argued that Thompson relied on unfounded stereotypes about how a typical gambler would behave and failed to provide sufficient reasons for assessing witness credibility, particularly regarding the victim’s undisclosed text messages. The woman limited Warman’s gambling through an account she controlled. When he asked for funds to gamble, she refused, and a violent altercation ensued. She testified that Warman spat in her face and pushed and shoved her before grabbing the phone she used to control the bank account and smashing it on the bedroom floor. She told the court that he also punched her and struck

GOOGLE STREET VIEW IMAGE

The BC Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in Vancouver, as seen on Google Street View.

her in the face with the broken phone while holding her by the hair and kicking her legs and torso. Warman testified that he threw the phone at the TV in frustration when she stopped him from gambling, but it accidentally hit her in the face. He claimed she physically assaulted him, prompting him to use a bear hug to bring her to the ground. He alleged that this caused her injuries. During the trial in January 2025, the victim revealed under crossexamination that text messages between them had not been provided to police or the Crown. She said the Crown had told her before the trial that it was her decision whether to disclose the messages, but that late disclosure

would delay the trial. Warman’s lawyer failed to have a mistrial declared. When the trial resumed in June 2025, Warman testified in his own defence. He revealed that he had resumed gambling shortly after the incident and won $16,000, a secret he kept until he testified under oath. Wilson, who heard the appeal in September, said there was nothing in the record to suggest Thompson had misapprehended the evidence. He ruled that the trial judge properly assessed the credibility of the victim and Warman, the only two people called to testify, “with regard to the internal and external consistencies of each. It is apparent from her reasons that she accepted the evidence of (the

complainant) and rejected the evidence of Mr. Warman.” Regarding the text messages, Wilson said the circumstances of the victim’s conversation with Crown counsel in January 2025 “was not something the judge needed to resolve, nor was there sufficient evidence to allow her to do so. The trial judge’s reasons are detailed and make reference to the evidence as to why she found (the complainant’s) account of the evidence to be credible.” In conclusion, Wilson said, “The trial judge articulated very clearly and thoroughly why she found the complainant to be a credible witness. Her decision accords with the evidence, and her findings are entitled to deference.”

Eighteen months probation for youth in sex assault case BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A youth who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a girl was sentenced to 18 months of probation on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Prince George Provincial Court. Judge Charles Hutchinson also ordered the 18-year-old, who cannot be identified under the Youth

Criminal Justice Act, to pay the victim $1,200 in restitution for the cost of her counselling sessions. The youth has no criminal record, but Hutchinson said denunciation and deterrence were required. “The focus here is on rehabilitation and, as Crown has described it, education,” Hutchinson said. He said the youth must understand and appreciate the harm he caused

the victim. “It is important that all young persons understand the boundaries of consent and the fact that an enthusiastic yes is required rather than silence or capitulation,” Hutchinson said The youth must complete 40 hours of community work service by Friday, Oct. 22, 2027. He will qualify for a one-for-one reduction in community

work service hours for every hour he spends attending counselling sessions. He must not come within 100 metres of the victim or communicate with her. He must also stay away from any female under the age of 16, except when the communication or contact is incidental or occurs in a public place where adults are present.

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Thief heading to jail for stealing curling irons BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man arrested at Prince George Golf and Curling Club with curling irons he stole from a nearby salon was sentenced to another 34 days in jail during an Oct. 15 hearing in Prince George Provincial Court. Clinton Levi Poitras used a rock to smash the window at Core Salon and Spa on April 21, 2025 and left with hair products and curling irons. He jumped the fence to the golf course. Prince George RCMP tracked Poitras with a drone to a set of bushes, but it was dark and the unresponsive Poitras remained in hiding. Court heard that a police dog became nervous that the

officers may be attacked, so an officer released the dog which bit Poitras on his arm and leg. The 1981-born man required stitches. Poitras also pleaded guilty to theft of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut in Pine Centre Mall on June 22, 2025 and for breaching his bail order. Poitras’s lawyer, Matthew James, had asked Judge Cassandra Malfair to stay the charges due to breaches of Poitras’s constitutional rights to security of the person and access to a lawyer without delay. Malfair dismissed the application to stay, but found the use of a police dog to be premature, because police gave Poitras no warning or opportunity to surrender voluntarily. “Mr. Poitras has endured some

punishment already by having been subjected to being taken down by the dog and receiving injuries,” Malfair said. Crown prosecutor Anna Novakovic wanted a sentence of two years less a day, but reduced the range to 18-to-22 months due to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms breaches. James said 15 months would have been appropriate, but proposed 10-to-11 months. Malfair said Poitras has a very lengthy and serious criminal record dating back 25 years. That includes 17 convictions for thefts, five for possessing stolen properties, 30 breaches of court orders. This was his fourth conviction for breaking and entering. But, Malfair said Poitras’s

background is “both tragic and concerning.” The Indigenous man’s mother was an addict and his father died when he was young. He lived in foster homes and began to use drugs before dropping out of school at age 15. The judge said that a 19-month sentence — or 578 days — for break and enter would have been appropriate. She reduced the sentence by onethird to 385 days due to the excessive force and injuries suffered. Poitras had 381 days credit, leaving four days remaining. He was sentenced to 30 days consecutive for the sunglasses theft. Malfair also ordered Poitras to spend 12 months on probation.

Man sentenced for bicycle theft and domestic assault BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man who stole a bicycle from a teenager at a McDonald’s restaurant and assaulted a woman in her house will spend almost six months more in jail. In an Thursday, Oct. 15 hearing in Prince George Provincial Court, Judge Martin Nadon ordered James Clifford Paul, 33, to serve a gross 820-day sentence. Paul had been in custody since his July 4, 2025 arrest, so he qualified for 702 days of time served credit. Nadon also sentenced Paul to 60 days consecutive for the assault, for a total 178-day net sentence. He also ordered Paul to spend two years on probation. Court heard that Paul stole a bicycle from a 14-year-old while brandishing a hatchet. By chance, two Prince George RCMP officers were in the restaurant at the time and arrested James at gunpoint. “I’m not going to speculate what might have happened if the police didn’t happen to be there,” Nadon said. “But the police did happen to be there.” Nadon watched closed circuit footage of the incident and said it appeared to

be a crime of opportunity. “I don’t put much stock in Mr. Paul’s explanation that he gave in the presentence report that he thought the victim had taken his bike, which had been stolen,” Nadon said. “I find that the offence was committed in order to support his drug addiction.” On Dec. 23, 2024, Paul was arrested for assault with a weapon after a woman took him into her home because he had no place to stay. Nadon said Paul’s Indigenous background, upbringing and addiction were mitigating factors. But he has a criminal record and his crimes were committed against a child and a woman. Denunciation and deterrence were Nadon’s paramount sentencing considerations. “I hope that he is sincere that what he wants to do is put his drug addiction behind him and work on that, and that’s to be commended,” Nadon said. “And I am encouraging him to continue on that path and to also continue reconnecting with his culture, because that seems to be one of the anchor points of his life.”

1685 3rd Ave. Prince George, BC

250-563-6637 www.booksandcompany.ca

The Conservative Party is ready to take the wheel as long as they can find the manual and someone who remembers how to drive

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president, sues for return of documents and phone

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) fired its president for misconduct and applied to the BC Supreme Court for an order requiring him to return a company cellphone and documents. In filings dated Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Vancouver registry, PGAA said it fired Geoff Ritchie for cause after investigating an alleged safety violation that occurred between March 9 and 11. None of the allegations has been tested in court. Ritchie has yet to file a statement of defence. During a termination meeting on Thursday, Oct. 2, PGAA requested the return of the company cellphone. Both the device and its subscription were paid for by the authority. “The defendant alleged during the termination meeting that he did not have the PGAA phone with him,” the court documents stated. “Following the termination meeting, the plaintiff repeatedly asked the defendant to return the PGAA phone. The defendant has refused to return the PGAA phone.” The phone contained confidential information about parties with which PGAA had contracted, as well as other sensitive information, including employee compensation and commercial details. “While he was packing his personal belongings, he took documents, including confidential information, that are the plaintiff’s property and had been secured in a locked filing cabinet,” PGAA alleged. PGAA said Ritchie’s contract required him to keep information confidential and secure and prohibited him from using it for himself or others. He also agreed to return all PGAA property, including the cellphone and confidential information, upon

termination. The contract entitled the authority to seek a court injunction to ensure compliance. In its court application, PGAA said that before Ritchie’s termination meeting, the board directed an employee to move PGAA property from its office into a locked filing cabinet. The material included “a draft copy of a commercial lease agreement, a report by InterVISTAS containing confidential information about the plaintiff and an original document that was signed by representatives from City of Prince George, the plaintiff and delegates from China.” After the termination meeting, three board members escorted Ritchie to his office to collect his personal belongings. “One board member was initially present in the office until the defendant yelled at her, at which time, she joined the other two board members in the hallway,” PGAA alleged. “The board members could not see inside most of the office from the hallway, and the filing cabinet was not in their line of sight.” Ritchie spent two hours packing nine boxes before being escorted out of the building. The door to his former office was then locked. Nobody else accessed the office until Monday, Oct. 6, when a PGAA employee inspected the filing cabinet and discovered it was unlocked and property was missing. On Thursday, Oct. 16, Justice Veronica Jackson ordered Ritchie to return the company cellphone and any information on it within 24 hours. Ritchie joined PGAA in July 2025 after spending five and a half years at Kelowna International Airport as director of commercial and air service. He began his aviation career in 2000 as an aircraft maintenance manager with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.

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PG industrial properties at the centre of loan dispute Citra Logistics Ltd. borrowed $2 million from the Business Development Bank of Canada BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A judge in BC Supreme Court granted a provisional court order to the Business Development Bank of Canada over a defaulted loan to Citra Logistics Ltd. According to the Thursday, Sept. 24 oral decision, published last week, BDC agreed in March 2021 to lend Citra $2 million. Mackenzie-based Citra granted BDC a mortgage over two large acreages outside Prince George that are vacant, bare land industrial properties. BDC demanded payment on June 11, 2025. BDC and Citra entered a forbearance agreement on July 11, 2025, in which BDC agreed not to enforce security until default on Jan. 11, 2026. The respondents filed an affidavit that

said the appraised properties were worth $4.89 million as-is in February 2022. Lot 1 was assessed at $2.6 million and lot 2 $144,000 in July 2025. “The primary argument of the respondents was that there is no real risk to BDC that its loans will not be repaid, as the value of the properties vastly exceeds the current amount owing on the mortgage,” said Associate Chief Judge Michael Shirreff. Citra estimated the lands and charged assets were worth as much as $6 million, but Shirreff said the court should not place “too much weight on the appraisal” because the valuation was four years old. “The evidence about the prospects of potential repayment is not concrete or developed and the respondents have had already had over 15 months to redeem the mortgage or resolve their

The primary argument of the respondents was that there is no real risk to BDC that its loans will not be repaid, as the value of the properties vastly exceeds the current amount currently owing on the mortgage.”

issues with the petitioner, including over eight months since the expiration of the forbearance agreement,” Shirreff said.

The judge granted the order for a redemption period expiring Oct. 26 with a sale order taking place Oct. 27. Also named as respondents were Citra-related company Artic Rents Ltd. and principals Timothy Martin and John McMaster. Last March, Artic sued China-based Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Import and Export Co. Ltd. (XCMG), its related companies and executives, for allegedly providing defective equipment, inadequate parts support, failure to process and pay warranty claims and tampering with serial plates. A BC Supreme Court judge froze the assets of two indirect subsidiaries of XCMG and barred them from transferring money to their parent company or affiliates without the court’s permission. XCMG denies the allegations against it.

Phase 2 Facilities

Completed Facilities Kitimat Meter Station

Phase 2 Compressor Stations

Wilde Lake Compressor Station

Workforce Accommodation Sites

Hudson’s Hope

LNG Canada Facility (3rd party)

Coastal GasLink (CGL) is committed to keeping communities informed as we advance facility and related construction activities on Phase 2. What you can expect What and where Activities will vary by location and Early activities may include earthworks stage of construction. Communities and site preparation, establishment of temporary workforce accommodations, may notice increased movement of people, equipment and materials, road access improvements, equipment and potential increased traﬃc near mobilization and other construction preparation activities. Initial construction compressor sites. CGL will continue to engage with Indigenous Nations, is anticipated to focus on the Clear local governments, landowners and Creek, Parrott Lakes and Racoon Lake stakeholders throughout construction. compressor station locations. When Construction activities are expected to begin as early as Feb. 1, 2027. Construction of the remaining Phase 2 facilities will advance in stages, as planning and permitting progress.

Sukunka Falls

Terrace Kitimat

Kitimat Meter Station

Telkwa Houston

Parrott Lakes

Fort St. James Clear Creek Burns Lake Segundo Lake

Fraser Lake

Vanderhoof

Mt. Bracey Racoon Lake Prince George

Staying informed Additional site-specific notifications and community updates will be shared as more information becomes available. Visit coastalgaslink.com/phase2 for project updates and additional information. Questions? coastalgaslink@tcenergy.com | 1.855.633.2011 (toll free)

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Dawson Creek

Tumbler Ridge

Smithers

AL A

Prince Rupert

Mackenzie

Coastal GasLink, operated by TC Energy. Phase 2 built in collaboration with LNG Canada.

ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIA

Phase 2 construction begins in 2027

Wilde Lake

Chetwynd

Under Construction Mt. Bracey (supporting Cedar LNG)

CONSTRUCTION NOTIFICATION:

Fort St. John Taylor

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

REGIONAL

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Williams Lake First Nation, Thompson Rivers sign deal Agreement will support T’exelcemc students KUSHI ARORA Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) signed an Yerí7 me7 sucwentwécw-kt, an agreement aimed at improving educational outcomes for T’exelcemc students. The new agreement was signed on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and outlines how the two parties will work together on academic programs, research and shared decisions, while acknowledging T’exelc’s inherent rights, jurisdiction, and cultural authority within its traditional territory. In an Oct. 22 release on TRU’s website, WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said, “We take great pride in building relationships and partnerships with institutions like Thompson Rivers University, operating within T’exelcemc territory and lifting up both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across our region.” Sellars further added these partnerships create meaningful opportunities to advance reconciliation, and education is a key part of that work. He said, “By supporting learning, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for people to better understand one another, we can help build a stronger future for everyone in our region.” The new agreement includes a joint implementation plan to put the new formalized agreement into practice. “Yerí7 me7 sucwentwécw-kt, We will recognize one another reflects our shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities through education and research,” said TRU president and vice-chancellor Airini, who goes by only one name. She said, “We recognize the importance of T’exelcemc knowledge, language and leadership

WILLIAMS LAKE FIRST NATION PHOTO

Williams Lake First Nation and Thompson Rivers University an agreement on Tuesday, Oct. 20 to expand academic opportunities for T’exelcemc students.

in shaping how we work together. What matters now is putting these commitments into action, removing barriers for student success and building educational pathways that reflect the priorities and aspirations of Williams Lake First Nation.” The agreement between WLFN and TRU aims at developing academic programming that reflects the interests, language, culture and traditional knowledge of the T’exelcemc (thew people of Williams Lake First Nation). The agreement will also expand access to training, certificates, diplomas and degrees, and create a framework for joint research aligned with WLFN’s priorities. It also affirms the Nation’s authority over cultural protocols and customary practices

within its traditional territory, noted the media release. TRU has committed to including the T’exelcemc variation of Secwepemctsín, the Secwépemc language into courses, events, signs and communications while recognizing WLFN’s role in welcoming visitors and guiding cultural protocols at the Williams Lake Campus. Alongside these cultural commitments, the agreement aims to help more T’exelcemc students enrol, continue, their studies and graduate, while expanding financial awards, according to the media release. To help remove barriers to education, WLFN and TRU will explore housing options for students

attending the TRU’s Kamloops campus and improve support for those moving between campuses. TRU will also continue recognizing prior learning and work to provide culturally appropriate mental health services, academic advising tutoring and other supports for T’exelcemc students. According to the release, the agreement draws on BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples. Both parties have also committed to supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action. This article originally appeared in The Williams Lake Tribune.

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McBride postpones utility rate decision before review KEVIN GIBSON

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

McBride council postponed a decision on future water and sewer rates Oct. 13 after a financial review warned that continuing existing annual increases would leave the Village short of its infrastructure replacement funding targets. Council requested additional rate options following a lengthy discussion about balancing household affordability with the cost of maintaining aging infrastructure. No new rates were approved. The review, prepared by CFO2go Consulting Services Inc., examined the municipality’s progress against a utility funding plan developed in 2021. The plan anticipated that annual increases of $25 for water and $25 for sewer would bring the utilities to a sustainable funding level by 2031. The updated analysis found that higher operating costs, fewer equivalent residential units than earlier projections suggested and other funding assumptions have put the Village behind that trajectory. Under the current approach, the review projects that annual funding available for infrastructure replacement would reach approximately 71 per cent of the sewer target and 53 per cent of the water target by 2031. Budgeted sewer operating costs, excluding amortization, have increased approximately 85 per cent from the earlier review’s 2021 baseline, while water operating costs have risen approximately 27 per cent. The review notes that the original fee targets did not account for inflation but does not establish why sewer costs rose so much faster than water costs. It does not provide a breakdown of the expenses driving those increases. The report also found that the earlier financial figures implied approximately 828 equivalent residential units for sewer and 713 for water. The 2026 budget implies approximately 570 and 586, respectively.

Equivalent residential units are a billing measure that accounts for different customer classes rather than simply counting households. With fewer units, each annual fee increase generates less revenue than earlier projections anticipated. The presenter cautioned that the earlier report did not include its underlying calculations. Its assumed billing base therefore had to be estimated from the financial projections, and the reason for the discrepancy could not be confirmed. The municipality has also been using gas tax funding, now known as the Canada Community-Building Fund, for major maintenance and minor capital work. The review noted that this approach draws on funding beyond utility user fees. During the presentation, council was shown a video illustration of a $200 increase in the combined annual residential water and sewer charge in 2027, allocating $145 of the increase to water and $55 to sewer. Residents currently pay a combined $723 annually: $373 for water and $350 for sewer. The illustrated increase would bring the total to $923 in 2027, with $518 for water and $405 for sewer. The example would bring McBride’s combined annual residential charge to $923, matching the rate listed for the District of Mackenzie in the comparison presented to council. The increase was discussed as an option but was not adopted. Council members considered several approaches, including a larger initial increase followed by smaller adjustments, gradual increases that become larger over time, and directing more of the increase toward water to address its greater funding gap. Council ultimately agreed to defer the item until additional figures and options are prepared. The current fee schedules expire Dec. 31, meaning a new bylaw or amendment must be in effect Jan. 1, 2027.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

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What’s happening in PG Creepy Choir Drop In goes Thursday, Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre,1448 Fifth Ave. Have you ever wanted to just sing with Nove Voce for fun? Are you tempted to sing along in concerts? Do you love harmony and part singing? Do you want to improve your music reading and singing skills? Join us for a night of Halloween classics, costumes not mandatory but encouraged. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/o/ nove-voce-choral-society Studio Fair 2026 goes Friday, Oct. 30 to Sunday, Nov. 1 at CN Centre is presented by the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District. This is Northern BC’s finest professional artisan fair that offers more than 100 vendors from across Canada selling their wares so patrons can get started on finding that perfect present ahead of the holiday giftgiving season. On Friday Studio Fair goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 and children under 12 are free. All admission proceeds go directly to Studio 2880’s arts programs. Please bring non-perishable food items for the local food bank. Halloween at the Prince George Legion goes Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. featuring the Chevys. This will be a Rockabilly Spooktacular event featuring Dennis Smith, standup bass/ vocals; Brad Martin, drums/vocals; and Tim Yule, guitar/vocals.$20 at the door. Art Knapp’s Annual Artisans in the Greenhouse events go Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This community market returns for two festive weekends. Browse handmade goods and unique gifts from about 20 local artisans and makers who set up right in the greenhouse. The Great Canadian Roadtrip goes Sunday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse featuring Doc Walker, Michelle Wright and

BLUE MOON MARQUEE PHOTO

Coldsnap presents Blue Moon Marquee on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Knox Performance Centre,1448 Fifth Ave.

Jason McCoy. This show brings together three of Canada’s most celebrated country music icons for an unforgettable evening of stories, songs, and shared memories. Fans will hear the personal stories and inspirations behind beloved hits while enjoying stunning visuals and heartfelt performances that celebrate Canada’s rich country music legacy. For tickets visit www.ticketsnorth.evenue.net/ greatcanadianroadtrip Maggie Corbett and Chiao-Rou Liu in Concert on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Prince George Conservatory of Music, 3555 Fifth Ave. This is violin and piano for an afternoon performance featuring music by Mozart, Respighi, Amy Beach, and Paganini. Admission is $20 or pay-what-you-can at the door. Love Food Hate Waste: Tips for Reducing Food Waste at Home goes Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Prince George Public Library and is presented by REAPS. Reducing food waste is critical because it saves money, conserves precious natural

resources, fights climate change and helps feed people in need. Join us in looking at tips in planning meals, shopping with a strict list and storing items correctly to extend their freshness. This is a free event. Pioneer 50+ Curling Bonspiel goes Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club, 2601 Recplace Drive. The event includes a buffet dinner, cash prizes and the bonspiel that has an open format. Registration deadline is Nov. 4. For more information and to register call Tenille at 250563-0357 ext. 2 or email curling@ pggolfandcurling.com or register online at www.pggolfandcurling.com/ Pioneer-SR-Curling-Bonspiel A Whole Yacht of Funk goes Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. with doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. This event is presented by the Big Enuff Big Band as their season opener. Performances will include Earth, Wind, Fire, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and more.

There will be seating on the floor and in the balcony, as well as a dance floor and the cantina will be open to serve refreshments. For more information and tickets visit www.showpass. com/a-whole-yacht-of-funk Coldsnap presents Blue Moon Marquee on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Knox Performance Centre,1448 Fifth Ave. Blue Moon Marquee writes and performs original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/ guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) have played for crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival stages. For more information and tickets visit https://coldsnapfestival.tickit.ca/ events/34912-coldsnap-presents-bluemoon-marquee CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Art Show & Sale & Silent Auction goes Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club, 2601 RecPlace Drive. This is a fundraiser for the blind curlers in Prince George and features artwork from local artists Rick Mintz and Dave Dunsdon. There is a silent auction and all proceeds from that and 20 per cent of the artwork sales will be donated to the PG Blind Curlers Club for when they host the BC Blind Curling Championships in Jan. 2027. St. Mary’s Craft Fair goes Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1088 Gillett Street in the gym. This annual holiday fair features all kinds of handmade crafts and baked goods including knitwear like toques and scarves, wooden toys, and even 3D printer toys. The concession will have a delicious selection of hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade soups, egg muffins and pies. The Winter Gathering goes Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the House of Ancestors, 355 Vancouver St., hosted by the Vendor Vault. Celebrate the season, shop local. Enjoy cozy vibes, unique local finds, and festive holiday energy in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. From handcrafted gifts to artisan creations, discover beautiful treasures made with care by talented local makers. Admission is free. Songs of Remembrance – Song of Peace goes Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s & All Angels Church, 1505 Fifth Ave. The Two Rivers Community Orchestra and the Prince George Cantata Singers invite everyone for an afternoon of music in the hope of peace. Under the direction of José Delgado-Guevara and Carolyn Duerksen, the two groups present a contemplative program that holds space for all whom war has touched: the peacemakers, the veterans, those who did not return, and those who

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carry the cost of conflict still. The music moves from folk songs to choral settings. Marie Hay will guide the afternoon with spoken reflections and the intermission will be observed as fifteen minutes of shared silence. We ask that applause be held until the close of the concert. Admission is by donation. Reflections in Sound goes Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 3555 Fifth Ave. Presented by the faculty of the Prince George Conservatory of Music this is an afternoon chamber concert focusing on classical minimalism and featuring works by Philip Glass and Ludovico Einaudi. There is refreshment following the concert. Admission is $20 at the door or pay-what-you-can. Warren Miller’s Day Off Movie Premiere goes Saturday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. at Hart Highlands Winter Club – Hart Ski Hill, 3740 Winslow Drive. Join host Katie Burrell as she sets out to find what the world’s best do when they slow down and rediscover the art of the day off. No agenda, no competition, just pure unscripted joy from Deer Valley to Canada, the deep powder of Hokkaido, Japan, and untracked lines of Alaska, Chamonix, and beyond. In theaters this fall. Find your tickets at https://warrenmiller. com/events/hart-ski-hill Dead of November goes Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. There will be four bands performing, including Vaegon, Tombstone, Plagued by Fire and LOWR Lich of Willow River. This is an all ages show. $20 at the door. Handy Circle Craft Fair goes Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 950 Kerry Street and is presented by the Handy Circle Resource Society. Handy Circle is inviting everyone to shop for handmade crafts while supporting community. There will be door prizes hourly and a 50/50 draw. For crafters looking for a table to sell their wares email hcrspg@gmail.com or call

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Lorraine at 250-613-9403. Merry & Bright Market goes Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CN Centre. Shop local businesses this holiday season. Shop for unique items for everyone on the list. Admission to the market is free. Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1655 Nicholson Street, right beside Koops Bike Shop. There are sales and special events taking place often. There is a big selection of dishes, pots and pans, men’s ties, games, CDs, fabric, collectibles, socks and shoes. They’ve got a beautiful display of jewelry and handbags, clothing for everyone and picture frames and framed artwork. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get the inside scoop on super sales, seniors discounts and more at thriftshopsignup@gmail.com Parkinson Support Group Meetings are held the first Saturday of every month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Meetings are informal and focus on sharing information about slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease, featuring guest speakers, offering special events, exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Access to the centre is via the lower parking lot. Questions? Call Gina 250-960-1600. Canadian Cancer Society is looking for Wheels of Hope drivers who make a significant impact on the lives of those battling cancer. By providing crucial transportation to treatment appointments, volunteers offer not only a ride but also a supportive presence. This role involves flexible scheduling, confirming travel arrangements, ensuring client safety while adhering to CCS policies. Canadian Cancer Society will provide training as volunteers join a dedicated team of more than 1600 drivers. Commit to a minimum of half a day to one day per week and be part of a mission to support and uplift those in

need. For more information contact Wheels of Hope at 1-800-939-3333 or email volunteer@cancer.ca or visit www.cancer.ca//living-with-cancer/ how-we-can-help/cancer-travel-andaccommodation-services-bc Craft & Chat at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor, where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest. Myeloma Support Group goes every third Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Commonwealth Financial, 575 Victoria St. Everyone is welcome who has been diagnosed, those who are caregivers, family members and friends. Wheelchair accessible parking at the back of the building. For more information call Viv Lougheed at 250-981-2618. Chronic Condition Support Group takes place the first Tuesday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Nechako Branch of the Prince George Public Library, 6547 John Hart Hwy. This is a community social group where people with any chronic condition can come together to socialize, connect and learn from each other. This is a free drop-in event. Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. a spot by calling ahead at 250562-8066. Open Mic at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. Open mic is hosted by Danny Bell and friends. Come on down and share songs, poetry, dance, stories, and anything else you can think to do on stage. All are welcome. If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too. LOCF

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Prince George Sports Hall of Fame: Meet the athletes inducted this year Mary Potskin, Gerry Beckham, Tuomas Ukonmaanaho, Keith Sullivan and Kris Yip TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Remember the old Popeye cartoons, when the sailor needed an energy boost and got it by eating a can of spinach that made the muscles in his arm bulge? Mary Potskin didn’t need spinach. Years of training and an indomitable will to win as a softball pitcher made one of her arms bigger and more flexible than the other. She used that muscle-mass imbalance to become a Prince George sports legend. Potskin, who died at age 68 on Nov. 28, 2021, was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 24, during the hall’s 14th induction ceremony at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. She was honoured alongside Kris Yip (cycling), Tom Ukonmaanaho (track and field), Gerry Peckham (curling) and Keith Sullivan (ringette).

Mary Potskin Taught by her father, Potskin was one of the first female windmill pitchers to grace a Northern BC ball diamond. She started playing at age 15 and became a dominant force in the Prince George Women’s Softball League, pitching until she was 60. Her remarkable career spanned from 1968 until she retired in 2013. She won the league’s MVP award eight times, established herself as one of its top hitters at age 16 and led the league in RBIs in 1987. Potskin conditioned her pitching arm like no other woman in the region. It wasn’t unusual for her to pitch 53 innings in a weekend tournament without relief. More often than not, her teams came home with the trophy. “She never missed a game. She played injured — you can only play so many games and you’re not sore,” said Edna Stitt, who played with and against

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This year’s Sports Hall of Fame inductees are, from left, Mary Potskin, Gerry Beckham, Tuomas Ukonmaanaho, Keith Sullivan and Kris Yip. They were honoured during a ceremony held Oct. 24 at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre.

Potskin in the Prince George league and at out-of-town tournaments. “If you had to pick a pitcher, you would pick Mary and hardly need any other pitcher. She would pitch at any time, anywhere. She was like a little machine you could put in there and away she would go. “She was a tough cookie to hit. And you could always count on her for a hit when you required one.” Indigenous tournaments in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan kept Potskin busy throughout the softball season. She also played and coached on Prince George teams that included her daughter Wendy. “Because she was Indigenous, they would go anywhere to play ball. That was just what they did. She went anywhere and everywhere,” said Stitt. In August 1979, Potskin led her Interior Warehousing club team to the senior B provincial championship. She won the most valuable pitcher award after defeating the defending champions from Nanaimo 7-2 in the A-B final. The Warehousers advanced to the Western Canadian championship that year in Brandon, Man., the highest level of competition in Canada, and won that title as well, with Potskin the obvious choice for tournament MVP. “I feel that Mary Potskin is the most talented woman softball player that ever played in Prince George,” said

longtime teammate Elaine Preston. “There have been many good women players in town, but Mary was head and shoulders above them all. “Mary was able to play the infield or the outfield, but she was valued most as a windmill pitcher. She perfected the fastball, the curveball, the change-up and the drop-ball. Mary was able to use these pitches with amazing accuracy. She made it very difficult for the batters. While she was pitching, her infielding skills were a great asset. Mary was also a great batter and was used near the top of the order.” As accomplished as she was on the field, Potskin was also a valued friend and teammate. She was always encouraging and empathetic toward other players, and her enthusiasm for the sport was infectious.

Gerry Peckham It’s been nearly three years since Gerry Peckham stepped down after 33 years as Curling Canada’s high-performance director, and national teams continue to reap the rewards of his legacy. He wrote the book that serves as a guide for the National Coaching Certification Program. His visionary leadership helped Canada maintain its position as a curling powerhouse. He helped the country’s best teams bring home 108 international medals, including 44 gold, and contributed to

Canada’s podium success at every Olympic and Paralympic Games. Having grown up playing the game at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club under the influence of his parents, Wilf and Mae, Peckham represented BC at national championships and competed in the Brier twice. He played lead for Jack Tucker’s Richmond Winter Club rink at the 1973 Brier. The following year, he was the all-star second for Jim Armstrong, also representing the Richmond club. Peckham began writing instructional and coaching manuals in 1974. In 1990, he was hired as high-performance director and moved to Ottawa. During his 33 years in the role, he oversaw the training of more than 33,000 coaches, who benefited from his specialized instruction program at more than 128,000 training events. “He has impacted generations of athletes and coaches throughout his professional career,” said Paul Carson, then chair of the Canadian Curling Association. “His belief in the mandate of the Coaching Association of Canada extends to that of board member, trusted adviser and mentor for decades. It is an honour to recognize his contribution on behalf of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Tuomas Ukonmaanaho At 81, Tuomas “Ukon Tom” Ukonmaanaho is showing no signs of slowing down. He has beaten cancer and continues to defy the clock as a world-record holder in track and field. He still posts times in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints that masters runners 30 years younger struggle to match. In relays, he remains world-class. In 2022, at age 77, Ukonmaanaho was part of the 4 x 400-metre and 4 x 800metre relay teams that set world indoor records in the men’s 75-to-79 age category. That came a year after he broke the Canadian record in the decathlon, which still bears his name. As a masters athlete and member of the Prince George Track and Field Club, Ukonmaanaho has been associated with at least 48 world, national and provincial records, all since turning 65. His most recent Canadian record came a year ago, when he cleared 2.28 metres in the pole vault. Ukonmaanaho still holds at least two dozen records. Behind his remarkable athletic résumé is an extremely humble person who gives away his gold medals to those he considers his real-life heroes.

Keith Sullivan Keith Sullivan will always be remembered as the father figure of the Prince

George Ringette Association. He grew up around hockey and knew virtually nothing about ringette before becoming the coach of his daughter’s team. What began in 1983, when Sullivan reluctantly committed himself to the game, developed into a passion that lasted 40 years, until he died of cancer at age 75 on Oct. 10, 2025. As a coach, manager, referee and league administrator, Sullivan devoted himself to ringette for four decades. “He was always there for the players. It was all about them — he would take reffing courses and coaching courses and was involved in so many things,” said former Prince George coach Madeleine Crandell in 2024, when Sullivan received a Sport BC President’s Award. “It was never for recognition for him. He’d never miss a practice, never miss a game. He kept ringette going in Prince George from day one, when he got involved over 40 years ago. “Every ringette tournament, from the annual Joy Hoffman to the Canadian Ringette Championships in 2000 and everything in between, Keith has been involved. Keith’s positive attitude and energy allow him to connect with his players and their parents, creating an environment where everyone was comfortable and motivated.” Sullivan coached in the Northern BC Winter Games and BC Winter Games and took regional teams from the

North to provincial, Western Canadian and national championships. His connections with BC Ringette opened doors for northern BC players to attend provincial team camps, leading them to the biggest tournaments of their lives. In 2016, he took a U16 team to Finland for a 10-day tour, competing against teams from Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. “Keith would always go out of his way to make it so that players had the opportunity to be involved in these teams, whether it was supplying them with equipment, giving them rides or making it affordable to get there,” said former team manager Georgina Scully. “On that Finland trip, males weren’t allowed to play there, and we did have males on the team. He still found a way to bring them and include them so they felt they were part of the team. It wasn’t just a team to Keith, it was a family.”

Kris Yip From the time he became a competitive cyclist at age 15, Kris Yip was hooked on pushing his pedals harder and faster than everybody else. The Duchess Park Secondary School graduate entered every race he could with the Prince George Cycling Club, working his way up through the junior provincial and junior national teams. He brought fame to his hometown in 1993 by winning the junior national road race

and criterium events. Those victories opened up the cycling world to Yip, who travelled to races across Canada and tested himself internationally in the United States, Spain and France. As an adult, he remained an active club member, organizing events such as the PG Enduro and the annual Koops Classic Purden-to-Prince George road race. Family responsibilities as a father of two boys and a breadwinner forced him to scale back his competitive cycling career. The pandemic recharged his racing ambitions, and Yip found a way to compete at a high level virtually, without having to leave home. Riding rollers on a stationary bike stand while watching a computer screen simulate a road race course, Yip finished 11th in the PanAmerican selection race. That qualified him to compete against the world’s elite cyclists at the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling Esports World Championship in February 2026, where he finished 67th. Yip died at age 47 on Jan. 18, 2023, while training on his indoor bike. His death was caused by an undiagnosed coronary artery blockage. His death led to the formation of the Kris Yip Memorial Foundation in 2024. Each year, the foundation hosts a recreational long-distance fondo ride in his memory to raise funds and awareness and encourage other athletes to get tested.

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New Art Show and Sale raising funds for Prince George CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Rick Mintz and Dave Dunsdon decided to help their fellow curlers by fundraising ahead of the BC Blind and Visually Impaired Curling Championships, which will be held in Prince George from Jan. 8 to 10, 2027. Mintz has already been fundraising this year with his 2027 calendar, Beautiful BC, with proceeds going to BC Children’s Hospital. But he said he has more art to share for a good cause and will do just that at an art show and sale featuring a silent auction. Mintz and Dunsdon are hosting the two-day event at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Twenty per cent of sales, along with proceeds from the silent auction, will be donated to the Prince George Blind Curlers Club. “We’re going to have a fairly large silent auction during the event,” Mintz said. Mintz’s paintings will be available for sale and through the silent auction. He has also created practical art pieces by painting on clock faces, which will be featured at the event. Dunsdon’s dried flowers encased in epoxy coasters, trinket trays and soap dishes will be available for sale and auction. River tables featuring wood inlays with epoxy overlays will also be offered for sale and as silent auction items. Dunsdon said he started making functional art a while back, when he was renovating his home and needed to buy a jigsaw to cut a hole in the wall for a drain in the downstairs bathroom. “I went to the hardware store and got a jigsaw, and you can turn it as you go,” Dunsdon said. “So I cut the circle, and then I thought, ‘Hmm, I could probably make some stuff with this.’ I started making little wooden flowers, and it just kind of went from there.” He sold wooden flowers and shadow

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Dave Dundson has created a variety of items, like coasters, trinket boxes, dishes and furniture.

cabinets before moving on to rocks Why the change? “I got tired of the wood, and I started picking up rocks, as I enjoy getting out and walking in the bush,” Dunsdon

said. “I started finding agates, and then I wondered what I was going to do with them all because I have a boatload of them. I polished them up and got a little rock saw, and then I started making

jewellery — earrings and pendants — and then my brother got me into doing the rocks.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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They host the BC Blind Curling Championship in January CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Dunsdon takes larger rocks and shapes them into shallow bowls, then polishes them until their intricate patterns make you wonder whether he has added an inlay. The designs are actually natural patterns hidden in the rocks. To carve them, he uses an angle grinder fitted with a diamond blade. “And then the wife passed away, and I realized I needed something to do,” Dunsdon said. It has been about five years since Liz passed away. Soon afterward, he came across river tables on social media. “And I thought, ‘Hmm, that might be fun!’” He bought a bunch of supplies and got to work. “And started playing with it, and it just kind of went from there,” Dunsdon added. He said he doesn’t have enough space to create large tables, so he sticks to side tables. Dunsdon said he is never truly happy with most of his pieces, but there is one table featuring inlaid pieces of wood that he coloured using several different dyes. “I guess that one’s pretty good.” Visitors can see the table for themselves at the art show and sale and silent auction. Terry Pipkey, lead of the Prince George Blind Curlers team, is grateful to Mintz and Dunsdon for organizing the fundraiser. Pipkey’s team plays in the seniors league at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club every Thursday. “And Rick Mintz has always been a big supporter of ours, and when he heard we were hosting the BC Blind and Visually Impaired Curling Championships in January, he decided to donate towards our efforts,” Pipkey said. The Prince George Blind Curlers received a BC Gaming grant to host the championships in January, but it won’t cover all the costs. “So the funds will probably go to

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Dave Dundson, sitting with some of his smaller pieces of practical art, will be offering up his artwork during the Art Show & Sale & Silent Auction that will benefit the Prince George Blind Curling Club as they host the BC Blind Curling Championships in January 2027.

food,” Pipkey said. “We have to supply dinner on Friday night and then lunch again on the following day during our bonspiel. We’ve been participating in provincial bonspiels for the last 26 years, and this will be our fifth time hosting the event.” In the early days, Pipkey said, seven communities had blind curling clubs. Now, only four remain. Clubs are currently operating in Prince George, Kelowna, Vancouver and Campbell River. “The Prince George Blind Curling Club organizing committee would like to thank Rick and Dave very much for contributing to our efforts,” Pipkey said.

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Quesnel rallies behind one-year-old with brain tumour MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A Quesnel family is facing one of the most difficult situations a family can endure. Weeks before their son Oscar’s first birthday in June, Jason Traas and Taneesha Harper learned that their youngest had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. However, in the months since, their community of Quesnel has rallied around them, providing an outpouring of support. Oscar’s treatment began when he was rushed to hospital on June 3 after experiencing concerning symptoms. Doctors discovered a large brain tumour near vital areas at the base of his brain. Complex surgery was required to give him the best chance of recovery. He was transported from Prince George to BC Children’s Hospital, where doctors inserted a drain to relieve

pressure on his brain and performed urgent tests to better understand the tumour and plan the next steps in his treatment. Those steps included an 11-hour brain surgery that successfully removed 80 per cent of the tumour. Oscar underwent another surgery in early October to have a permanent shunt inserted to help regulate the fluid in his brain. He has been recovering well since the procedure. Oscar’s mother, Taneesha Harper, spoke to The Citizen about his recovery. “After two surgeries, they were able to remove about 90 per cent of it, and now we’re waiting for the next steps in treatment. He gets a little bit stronger every day. He’s currently working on crawling again and learning to stand,” Taneesha said. With Oscar’s parents spending four months in Vancouver during his treatment, travel expenses and lost

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wages have begun to add up, placing financial strain on the family. However, the Quesnel community has stepped up in a big way to support Oscar and the Traas family. A GoFundMe campaign set up for the family has raised $11,703 toward its $13,000 goal, with donations from Quesnel residents, friends, family members and more. The Quesnel Bakery has also joined the effort by launching the “Together for Oscar” fundraising campaign and pledging to match donations up to $1,000 until the end of October. Gerd Teetzen and Wanda Teetzen, who have co-owned the bakery for more than four decades and have traditionally organized community fundraisers, were moved by Oscar’s story and wanted to help the family through this difficult time. “We felt that would be a very good thing to take part in,” Gerd said. “When you hear the story and you understand

that this young couple, all of a sudden, their lives had been turned upside down by this situation, it felt like it was going to be a cause that would resonate well, not only with the community, but something that would be really well appreciated by the family.” Gerd first learned about Oscar’s situation from a family friend who works at the bakery. Gerd’s own mother is undergoing cancer treatment, and he was touched by the thought of a family facing a similarly difficult situation with a child so young. “For someone so young to have to deal with something like this, he doesn’t even know anything else, and yet his family, of course, recognizes what he’s going to be having to deal with, perhaps for the rest of his life. It’s really quite something when you consider that,” Gerd said. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Businesses, community members and more have been supporting the family CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Beyond organizing the fundraiser, Gerd The response to the fundraiser plans to take the effort at the Quesnel Bakery has been a step further on overwhelming. Gerd said he did not Halloween night. expect donations to come in so quickly “The big day for us or in such large amounts. is going to be actual “I’m blown away by the outpouring of Halloween,” Gerd the community so far. We don’t want to said. “That is the day give away any totals until the final day, that I get out there but I can say we have people coming in in a Cookie Monster and they’re donating $100 bills, others mascot-level outfit, are putting in $70, and there are a large and I’ll be out at the number of people donating huge sums. front of the bakery. I’m It was totally unexpected,” Gerd said. hoping to get either The bakery’s social media posts a family member or a announcing the fundraiser have also family friend helping received an impressive response. Gerd me, and we’re going said one Facebook post had attracted to be handing out SUBMITTED PHOTO an estimated 14,000 views. cookies to kids. At the Oscar Harper, a one-year-old from Quesnel has received support from the Quesnel community “We’ve had posts in the past that have same time, there’s after a brain tumour diagnosis. reached some pretty decent milestones, going to be a donation but this one, so early in the game, is bucket there, and people can drop off support has been both surprising and twice, bringing toys and supplying them already starting to surpass a lot of them. money at the till and get a receipt for it, incredibly uplifting. with fresh produce. It’s quite something. I’m blown away all that kind of stuff. That’s going to be “I’m blown away, honestly,” she said. Taneesha said the family will use by the outpouring of the community so what I expect to be the really big day.” “It’s so nice to know that we have so money raised through the bakery and far,” he said. Taneesha said the community’s many people in our corner rooting GoFundMe campaign to cover travel for Oscar and cheering us on. expenses, including food, fuel and There are so many people tickets. She also said Oscar may need to keeping Oscar in their thoughts travel to the United States for treatment, and prayers, hoping that he gets making the funds even more important better and helping us through in the coming months. our journey. It helps to know “It’s such a relief for us since we’re we’re not completely alone in between treatments. We don’t know and that so many people are what the next steps will be, and we looking out for him and thinking don’t know when we’ll be going back of him.” to Vancouver or how long we’re going She also thanked family to be there. But it’s just incredible, the members and friends for kindness that people have shown to us. supporting the family during I just couldn’t appreciate it any more,” their hospital stay and Taneesha said. throughout Oscar’s recovery. The Quesnel Bakery will accept Taneesha said she had received donations until the end of October at countless messages of support its storefront at 468 Reid St. in Quesnel. from Quesnel residents. The Donations can also be made by Quesnel Quilting Club also e-transfer to quesnelbakeryltd@gmail. made a quilt for the family and com, provided the transfer specifies Oscar. that the money is for Oscar’s fundraiser. Desert Hills Ranch, located Donations can also be made SUBMITTED PHOTO in Ashcroft, has also provided through the family’s GoFundMe significant support, visiting campaign at www.gofundme.com/f/ The Harper family pose for a photo. Oscar, the family’s youngest, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour and has seen an outpouring of support from the Quesnel community. Oscar and his family in hospital support-baby-oscars-fight-and-recovery

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How to stay safe and have fun on Halloween Night Sewing needles were found in candy last year, RCMP confirm MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Halloween is a time for scares, treats and fun, but it shouldn’t be a time when your kids or friends are put in jeopardy. To that end, the Prince George RCMP has provided some important safety tips to keep in mind this Halloween. For parents planning to head out with their children on Saturday, Oct. 31, the RCMP recommends ensuring that costumes with masks or face coverings are easy to see through, are not tight around the ears and have no blind spots. This will help younger trick-or-treaters see and hear cars and other potential dangers around them. Reflective armbands, other reflective clothing and glow sticks are encouraged for all trick-or-treaters to help keep them visible to drivers at night. Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, the BC RCMP’s spokesperson for Northern BC, also shared tips for teenagers who may be heading out without their parents. “If you have teens or older kids who are going out, remind them that they’re supposed to walk on the right-hand side of the road, go up one side of a street, cross safely and come back down the other side if they’re in a neighbourhood, and not zigzag back and forth across the street,” Cooper said. “That can increase drivers’ confusion and put them at risk if they’re crossing the street too quickly in front of a car.” Last Halloween, the Prince George RCMP confirmed multiple reports of parents finding sewing needles in their children’s candy in the Bittner Road West and Bachinski Crescent area. Cooper advised parents to check their children’s treats before allowing them to eat them. “We’ve had some incidents over the last couple of years with Halloween candy that has something in it. It’s recommended you do some random

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Mia as a Unicorn and Arthur as a Firefighter were enjoying Trick or Treating in Southridge with their parents during Halloween night in 2024.

sampling. One thing that we recommend is not eating the candy as you go along. Wait until you’re home, when you can sort through it really quickly and give it a check for anything that looks like it may have been tampered with,” Cooper said. “If kids are eating as they go, you might not be able to see in the dark if the candy’s been tampered with.” Other safety tips for parents include ensuring costumes fit properly and do not have long or loose items, such as capes, or props like canes, swords and other objects that could pose tripping

hazards. If you plan to use face paint, conduct a brief spot test by applying a small amount to an area of skin to see if it causes a reaction. This is recommended for most products, as even face paint or makeup labelled hypoallergenic can cause reactions. The RCMP also encourages using battery-powered candles or flashlights inside pumpkins and decorations instead of open flames to prevent fire hazards. If you plan to display numerous inflatable Halloween decorations in your front yard, avoid plugging them

all into the same outlet to prevent an overload or potential fire risk. Parents of children with food allergies or conditions that prevent them from eating traditional candy can also consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project. The project is a worldwide awareness campaign that encourages residents to place a teal-painted pumpkin or the project’s official sign outside their homes to let trick-or-treaters know that non-food or allergy-sensitive options are available. These can include toys, school supplies or treats free of common allergens such as nuts, dairy, eggs and soy. Currently, only one home in Prince George is registered on the Teal Pumpkin Project’s global map. Located at 2090 Seventh Avenue, the home is listed as the “House of Vibes and Whimsy.” The household offers gluten-free, peanut-free food and nonfood treats. Adults and children planning to celebrate Halloween with fireworks are also encouraged to review the city’s rules on pyrotechnics before setting them off. “We also want to make sure that we’re checking with our local bylaws about fireworks and when you’re allowed to have them go off. Check if there are any times and regulations about fireworks. We know they’re allowed on Halloween, but make sure you’re not starting them too early or running them too late, and avoid all of those noise complaints from people hoping to get to bed,” Cooper said. Children aren’t the only ones heading out on Halloween night. The RCMP encourages adults attending parties or events to arrange safe rides home before celebrating. “If you have maybe imbibed a little bit too much or more than you were planning to on Halloween night, make sure you already have that safe ride planned before you go, instead of trying to figure something out once you’ve already gotten there and maybe had some intoxicating drinks or substances,” Cooper said.

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Studio Fair at CN Centre to start holiday shopping season More than 300 vendors will be on site during the artisan fair CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

It’s that time of year. Can you feel it in the air? It’s gift-shopping season, and there’s no better way to kick it off than by attending Studio Fair, the Community Arts Council’s annual premier fundraising event. The grand affair is set for Friday, Oct. 30, to Sunday, Nov. 1, at CN Centre, with more than 300 local, provincial and national artisans bringing their unique handmade items to the city. Because the Community Arts Council of Prince George & District (CAC) is a non-profit organization that supports artisans and groups across the region, those under its membership umbrella are invited to take their place at Studio Fair to promote themselves at no cost. “This is our major fundraiser, and we certainly appreciate the support we have received from the community over the past 51 years,” said Lisa Redpath, Studio Fair organizer and visual arts program manager at the CAC. Admission to Studio Fair is $10, with proceeds directly supporting the CAC’s Studio 2880 arts programs. “We have grown this event into Northern BC’s finest professional artisan fair,” Redpath said. Artisans will showcase their handcrafted goods, gourmet foods, pottery, wood crafts, soaps, candles, clothing, accessories, home decor, books, toys and more. “There is something for everyone. This is primarily about community, with all of our groups and guilds joining us every year,” Redpath said. “They come in for free to sell their tickets and promote themselves, and honestly, it’s an honour for us to support them in that way. Every year, when the public comes out to support the event and the arts, it’s a

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Studio Fair takes place from Friday, Oct. 30 to Sunday, Nov. 1. The floor at CN Centre and the concourse will be filled with more than 300 vendors just like it was in this photo from 2024.

tremendous feeling.” Visitors can also drop off nonperishable food items at the door. Donations will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food bank to help people in need in the community, an especially important initiative as rising grocery prices affect so many. “This is something we started in 2021 as we were getting back to things with restrictions during COVID19,” Redpath said. “It’s something that always puts tears in my eyes — to see the amount of food items donated by the community to help support St. Vincent’s food bank. It’s always so good to give back like that.” Studio Fair will feature several new vendors this year, Redpath added. “We’ll see all those beautifully handmade creations we’ve seen every year, and now there are more to see as well,” she said. “It’s more of what people who have come to Studio Fair for many, many years can expect to find at the event. With more than 300 vendors on site, we’re maxed out now - there’s nowhere else to go, not a square to spare!” Studio Fair runs Friday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and

Sunday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CN Centre. Admission is $10 for adults, while

children under 12 get in free. And don’t forget to bring a donation for the St. Vincent de Paul food bank.

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Enduring love: That’s their secret to a happy marriage This Prince George couple is celebrating 73 years together CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Imagine being married for 73 years. It started with instant attraction, followed by big adventures in their early years and the building of a family with six lovely children. The most important ingredient in this recipe for success, however, is the enduring love they have shared throughout their lives together. Dolly and Adrien Girard, now 91 and 96, are living their best lives at a seniors’ complex in the heart of the city, where they have lived since fall 2017. They moved to Prince George in 1967 so Adrien could take on a big job. “I was in charge of mechanical maintenance at Northwood Pulp,” said Adrien, who retired in 1991. “I came from Quebec and was with Northwood until I retired.” Dolly spent quite a few years as a stayat-home mom, raising their six children. “Then, when my youngest child was about ready to go to school, I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ So I took some classes at CNC, and I was a kindergarten teacher at St. Mary’s,” Dolly said. “I was a teacher for 14 years. Then, when Adrien retired, I retired, too, although I was young for retirement. We wanted to travel. We had a place in Arizona, and for 20-something years we would winter there.” Of their six children, three live in Prince George — two sons and a daughter. Another lives in Calgary, one in Hinton and a daughter in the United States, where she moved to be with her husband. To celebrate their 73rd anniversary, the couple enjoyed dinner in the dining room at their seniors’ complex. “We don’t drive anymore, so it’s a hassle to get out to a restaurant nowadays,” Dolly said. “We can’t drive anymore, so we sold our car,” Adrien added.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Adrien, 96 years old and Dolly Girard, 91, are celebrating their 73rd wedding anniversary.

We chatted about how much their children help them these days. “Our daughter does all our shoppingwe do nothing,” Adrien said with a smile. To prove it, Adrien explained that he always enjoys a good nap in his chair don’t we all? He also mentioned that he will turn 97 in mid-December. “I want to make it to 100 years old,” he declared. “I am sure you have noticed that I have an accent,” added Adrien, who grew up in Quebec. He then described what most days look like for him. “I read my French news every morning, my Canadian news in French and

in English, and the American news and the world news. Then I check my bank account. First thing in the morning, I set the breakfast table for Dolly, and then I make the bed. Then I have my breakfast and go back to my computer. I lay down a lot — I gotta have my morning laydown.” I’m thinking that might be the secret to Adrien’s clear mind. Dolly, who is just as clever, said she spends time on her iPad playing word games and number games. “And I have a book on the go all the time,” Dolly added. “Both of us go to tai chi every week, and I play cards.” I couldn’t wait any longer to ask the big question. I had watched the pair silently communicate with each other

simply by looking fondly into each other’s eyes. What is the secret to a loooooooong and happy marriage? “A good husband!” Now, I bet you thought it was Dolly who jumped in with that response, but nope! It was Adrien, whose quick wit had both Dolly and me laughing long and hard. Dolly gently brought us down from the merriment with her wise words. “I don’t know that there is one specific thing, but when I got married, there wasn’t a question that it would work out,” Dolly said. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Library offering look at new Indigenous space The Prince George Public Library is inviting the public to get a first look at its plans for an Indigenous space and collection early next month. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, people can drop by the Bob Harkins Branch’s second-floor periodical corner to get a look at renderings of the space, enjoy some light snacks and provide feedback on the plans. Inspiration for the new space, the release said, comes from Indigenous spaces at other libraries across the province. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Couple arrived in town with their six kids in 1967 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “You were married, and you have your bad times and you push through them. It never entered my mind that it was an iffy agreement. We are Catholic, and we have always gone to church all our lives. Maybe God helped us along, I don’t know, but it was never a ‘what if’ kind of thing. I think a lot of young people go into marriage not being sure why do it if you’re not sure? I was young when we married — Adrien is five years older. I was not 20, and Adrien was 24. I know there’s no magic potion, but you just stick to it.” “I promised to love her forever, but there is one promise I made that I didn’t keep,” Adrien added. “I told Dolly that we would only move here for two years.” That story echoes all over this city. Didn’t we all promise we’d only be here as a stepping stone in our careers, then end up staying because we fell in love with the lifestyle and the great outdoors? “It was a big move when we moved here in ‘67,” Dolly recalled. “We packed up and moved across the country with six kids — the baby was just seven months old at the time,”

Adrien said with a smile. The reason he needed to make the move so quickly was that the management team at Northwood Pulp had died in a plane crash between Vancouver and Prince George. His two bosses from the mill in Quebec were then running the local operation and suggested bringing Adrien to Prince George. “The management at Northwood Pulp all died in a plane crash between Vancouver and Prince George, and then my two bosses from the mill in Quebec were running this place here. So they said, ‘Let’s see if Adrien will come to Prince George.’ So I did.” The crash made the front page of The Prince George Citizen on July 9, 1965, under the headline “52 DIE IN CPA CRASH.” The plane went down just 20 minutes before it was scheduled to land at the city’s airport. “I worked for them for 24 years here, and I retired at 60 — I wanted to retire at 60,” Adrien said. “It was a night-and-day job. It was a new mill with new technology that wasn’t proven, so it was tough, and there were a lot of failures. I could say a woman giving birth does not look at the clock - it happens any time - and the same goes for failures at a mill. It

doesn’t matter what time it is - failures happen at 2 o’clock in the morning, and I had to get there to look at the problem and fix it.” Adrien then revealed that he didn’t learn to speak English until he was 19. “It made it easier for me to eventually marry this girl,” Adrien said with a smile, looking at his bride. “Because I didn’t speak French,” Dolly said. So I had to ask: How did you meet? “We met at Chalk River, Ontario, which was the atomic plant where Adrien worked. I went to work there right out of high school. My father worked there as well, and I worked in catering,” Dolly explained. “And I had my eye on this girl pretty quick,” Adrien said. “She was a very pretty girl — a very pretty girl.” Adrien recalled some of their adventures during his career, including time spent working in India. He initially refused the position until management agreed that he could bring his family. They spent two years there, which Dolly described as “difficult.” While raising their children in Prince George, the family did a lot of camping. They later bought a cabin at Cluculz Lake, where they spent their leisure

time. Eventually, all the children grew up and flew the coop, and Dolly and Adrien sold the cabin. As they grew older, managing their household became more difficult, so they took the steps necessary to continue living the way they wanted. “I always say when you have to downsize and leave the family home, it’s good to go on your own terms,” Dolly said. “Rather than having your kids saying you can’t do it anymore and making those decisions for you, which happens a lot even though they don’t want to, you have to be realistic. When stairs become a problem and the upkeep of the yard becomes too much, it’s time to go. We are pleased with our new home.” “We planned for this stage of our life for a long time,” Adrien said. They began looking at seniors’ accommodations years ago, and their first visit was to The Chateau when it was brand new. “I was still working, but we were already planning to move into a place like that. Then life went on, but it was always in the back of our minds that we would move out of our house,” Adrien explained. “You have to have a plan.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Throwback Thursday: Week of October 29

L.O.C.F.

October 29, 1992: Foothills Elementary School prepared for Halloween together as the Grade 6 and 7 students helped the younger ones hang their projects in the school. Citizen File Photo by Dave Milne.

October 29, 1968: Tommy Gurr of Okanagan Helicopters worked skillfully and carefully to place the tower top on Purden Lake Ski Development’s new ski lift. Citizen File Photo by Meredith Smith.

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October 31, 2006: Lorraine Sharun put the final touches on her Dracula in preparation for her family’s seventh year setting up a spooktacular haunted house in their front yard for Halloween. Citizen File Photo by Brent Braaten.

October 31, 1984: Denise Gairns, 4, concentrated on her pumpkin for the Halloween party held at St. Giles Presbyterian Church. An icy, cold Halloween was in store for Prince George in 1984, we remind motorists to be diligent of little trick-or-treaters this year too. Citizen File Photo by Ric Ernst.

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UNBC Legacy Night audience hears how female athletes break down barriers TED CLARKE

calls (she)roes to their fans. “I was blessed to Karina LeBlanc sees bright future play almost 20 years for women’s professional sports professionally and Women’s professional sports for this country, and I continue to thrive, and opportunities remember starting in for Canadians to build careers as paid empty stadiums and professional athletes have never been retiring at the 2015 greater. World Cup in sold-out Karina LeBlanc is seeing that stadiums,” LeBlanc said. change firsthand as general manager “If you look at our of Portland Thorns FC, a team in the country, we’re selling National Women’s Soccer League. out stadiums, and She discussed the growth of women’s all of our athletes on sports and her soccer career as the our national team are CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE keynote speaker at the 12th annual playing professionally. Karina LeBlanc, general manager of Portland UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night Where I am right now, Thorns FC, speaks to the crowd at the fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 21. in Portland, we have Prince George Conference and civic Centre “Right now, that’s why I’m in a player, Thorns FC at the 12th annual UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 21. forward Sophia Wilson, who’s making US$1 million, national team player, she earned 110 and that’s the norm now. caps over a 17-year career from 1999 That makes me so proud to 2015. She made two Olympic teams to be able to write that and played in five Women’s World contract. Cups. “When I played, I had A member of the Canadian Soccer another full-time job, and Hall of Fame and a former UNICEF there were so many things ambassador, LeBlanc was appointed you had to do to make to the Order of Canada in 2022 for her ends meet,” she said. “Now international efforts to use soccer to women can be professional promote social change. athletes, and they can go out LeBlanc was born in Atlanta, Ga., and understand the weight where her parents had evacuated they’re wearing. There’s for three weeks to escape a Category a next generation where 5 hurricane threatening their young boys walk around Caribbean home in Dominica. The with female names on the family moved to Maple Ridge when back of a jersey, and they she was eight, and she initially don’t think it’s weird. They struggled with shyness and isolation think female professional as the only Black child growing up in athletes are normal.” her neighbourhood. Her loneliness CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE LeBlanc is one of Canada’s disappeared the day she found her Karina LeBlanc (centre) gets together with a few of her soccer friends. From left are Mara calling after signing up for soccer. McCleary, an all-star defender for UNBC from 2016-22; TWolves women’s team head coach most decorated female Neil Sedgwick; men’s team head coach Steve Simonson and current women’s team striker soccer goalkeepers. As the Tiana Simonson. country’s longest-serving CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Citizen Staff

Portland. It’s the global epicentre of women’s sport,” LeBlanc said. “We sell out every professional soccer game every week. We get 20,000 for the Portland Fire in the Women’s National Basketball Association. The shift has been access for people to see what these athletes have always been doing.” Canadian women are taking their rightful place and gaining prominence as athletes who draw big TV ratings and large live audiences. That’s happening not only in soccer and basketball, but also in rugby, with its World Cup and Olympic exposure, and hockey, with the emergence and expansion of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. These athletes are becoming what LeBlanc

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

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Soccer great Karina LeBlanc shares her story onstage

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Carlene Heppner, daughter of Curt Garland, presents the inaugural Curt Garland Leadership Award to UNBC Timberwolves soccer player Hagon Kim.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE As a teenager in Maple Ridge, LeBlanc played for current UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer head coach Neil Sedgwick when he was an assistant with Canada’s junior national women’s team. That connection helped establish her ties to Prince George. Before her presentation at Legacy Night at the Civic Centre, LeBlanc toured the UNBC campus on Cranbrook Hill and was recognized by one of the students she met while walking the halls. “It’s just warm, and as a former

player who always craved for people to see what we were doing and value our worth, I think what we’re seeing is you have communities like this that value the worth of female athletes,” LeBlanc said. “The big cities get all the attention, but the smaller cities are the ones that need it most. I came from a small country and moved to this country, where I didn’t know where I fit in or where I belonged, and it was people seeing in me what I didn’t see in myself.” =Watching Donovan Bailey win Olympic gold for Canada while breaking the 10-second barrier in the

100-metre race sparked LeBlanc’s ambition to become an athlete. Despite receiving college scholarship offers in basketball, she made soccer her primary focus. She told the Prince George audience how devastated she was after being cut from the national select team while her friends made the roster. Her father challenged her to use that disappointment as motivation to work harder, encouraging her to train an extra 15 minutes every day. The following season, she earned a spot on the under-17 junior national team, and there was no looking back.

She made the 1999 World Cup team and went on to earn 110 senior national team caps over 17 years, including a victory in the 2011 Pan American Games goldmedal match, when she made two saves in the penalty shootout to defeat Brazil. At the 2012 Olympics in London, LeBlanc was the backup goalkeeper to Erin McLeod, who backstopped Canada to its first-ever Olympic soccer medal, a 1-0 bronze-medal victory over France. Diana Matheson scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute of injury time That year, the soccer world had low expectations for Canada heading into the Olympics after the team finished last at the 2011 World Cup. But Canada advanced to the semifinal against the United States at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, home of Manchester United, the team LeBlanc and her father grew up loving. Christine Sinclair scored all three goals for Canada, putting the team ahead 3-2. LeBlanc watched from the sidelines as starting goalkeeper McLeod was called for holding the ball longer than six seconds, resulting in a free kick that led to a handball and a subsequent penalty kick. American Abby Wambach converted the penalty in the 80th minute to tie the game. The United States then scored with a header three minutes into extra time to advance to the gold-medal game, where it went on to beat Japan. “Our team would argue that winning the bronze medal did more for Canadians falling in love with the game because of the way we lost in the semifinal round,” LeBlanc said. “For us, the best part was we went to that Olympics not to win a medal but to inspire the next generation. “In the end, I feel like we won a Canadian gold.”

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Cross-country runners qualify for national championships in Quebec They won U16 races at provincial meet on Vancouver Island TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Zavier Gladdish admits he’s a late bloomer as a distance runner. The 14-year-old Prince George Track and Field Club member only started entering races a couple of years ago, and he’s already beating the best BC has to offer. At the BC Athletics club provincial cross-country championships on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Nanoose Bay near Nanaimo, Gladdish won the U16 boys race, finishing ahead of 37 other runners. He completed the four-kilometre course in 13:53, seven seconds ahead of second-place finisher Taylor Grieve of Nanaimo. “I made sure to start pretty easy, not going too fast off the start, so I wasn’t right in front with all the pressure on me, and I just stayed behind the guys in the front pack for the first half,” said Gladdish, a Grade 10 student at D.P. Todd Secondary School. “Right before the second lap, I was making my moves for the first time and was sitting in third place pretty comfortably. In the middle of the second lap is when I started making my real moves to get first place.” Gladdish inherited his athletic genes from his father, Bryce, a former competitive cross-country distance runner, triathlete and mixed martial artist who is president of the Prince George Track and Field Club.

As a young boy, Zavier used to run with his dad SUBMITTED PHOTO and older Zavier Gladdish of the Prince George Track and Field Club on his way to winning the U16 boys race at brother, Noah, the BC Athletics cross country championships, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 at Nanoose Bay. but didn’t really enjoy it until Grade 7. He and top four females in each age of Fort St. John finished eighth started entering races and increased category qualify. in the U16 boys race, while Sam his training the following year. By Fifteen-year-old Kavita Dhillon of Hopson of Prince George placed Grade 9, he was doing two workouts Vanderhoof also had an outstanding 21st. a day and entering bigger races. performance at Nanoose Bay, In the U18 boys race, Jack Bolton This has been his breakout year. winning the U16 girls race ahead of of Smithers finished 10th and Gladdish won gold in the 2,000 34 other runners in 15:12. Connor Garrison of Prince George metres at the BC Summer Games Dhillon won the 2025 national placed 21st. Gladdish, Toews and in Kelowna in July, shortly after race in London, Ont., and will try Hopson finished second in the team winning the 1,200-metre race at to defend her title in Quebec as event. the BC provincial track and field the reigning junior national championships in Coquitlam. champion. He also won bronze in the 1,500 “Since I have been coaching metres at the high school track and for the past 28 years, we have field provincials and finished fourth never had two strong runners in the 3,000 metres. He dominated like these two individuals from the podium at the North Central our (North Central) zone,” said zone high school cross-country Brian Nemethy, Dhillon’s coach races this fall but had no idea how at Nechako Valley Secondary he would fare against the province’s School in Vanderhoof. “Kavita fastest runners. is already signed up for “We weren’t really sure how I’d nationals in Quebec, and you be performing in cross-country know she wants to repeat her because last year in track was my performance from last year.” first good year,” Gladdish said. Gladdish and Dhillon are “We went to club provincials to see entered in the BC School where I was at. I guess this race has Sports provincial cross-country put me up pretty good.” championships in Abbotsford The win guarantees Gladdish on Nov. 7. a spot on the BC team that will Four other Prince George SUBMITTED PHOTO compete at the Canadian crossTrack and Field Club runners Fifteen-year-old Kavita Dhillon of country championships Nov. 28-29 competed at the championships Vanderhoof after winning the U16 girls race. in Quebec City. The top four males in Nanoose Bay. Harvey Toews

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UNBC banks on size, experience and health this year TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

In 17 years as head coach of the UNBC Timberwolves, Todd Jordan has never had a men’s basketball team as tall as the lengthy lads he’s assembled for the new U SPORTS Canada West men’s basketball season. They also know how to play the game and could be talented enough to bring UNBC back to the playoffs for the first time since its bronze-medal finish in 2024. They just have to stay healthy. Injuries to key players crippled the Timberwolves last season, forcing Jordan and his coaching staff to practically toss out the playbook while making difficult adjustments. Consequently, UNBC won just two of 20 games and finished last in the conference. Evgeny Baukin, a six-foot-eight forward, broke his arm in the seventh game of the season, at a time when he was leading the country in scoring after recording three 30-point games. Guard Chris Ainsley broke his thumb, sidelining him for nearly half the season. Will Keyes, UNBC’s six-foot-11 post player, missed almost a season and a half after undergoing shoulder surgery. Point guard Justin Sungha suffered a slipped disc in his back two years ago, derailing that season. Although he played all 20 games in 2025-26, he still had not fully recovered. “We’ve gone through our struggles the last couple of years with injuries and playing a lot of young guys, and now our young guys are a little bit older and most of our injured guys are healthy,” Jordan said. “That puts us obviously in a much better foundation to start the season. We’re a little bit of an unknown as far as exactly where we’ll be, but I do think we’re much improved from the last couple of years.” The Canada West coaches’ poll has the Timberwolves pegged at 12th in the 17-team conference, which would be just enough to make the playoffs. But

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

UNBC Timberwolves forward Evgeni Baukin drives through the key past UBC-Okanagan Heat forward Julien Malfair at the Northern Sport Centre, Oct. 26, 2025.

they could easily move up a few spots, assuming they stay out of the sickbay. UNBC went 2-3 in the pre-season, including three-point losses to Alberta and Regina and a two-point defeat to Brandon. The Timberwolves have third-year players, one fourth-year player and four players in their fifth and final season of

eligibility. They haven’t had that kind of experience to draw on since their run to the Canada West podium two years ago. They also have the necessary physical attributes. Sungha stands five-foot-10 and is the shortest player on the team. The rest are all at least six feet tall,

including Keyes (six-foot-11), forward Miller Davies (six-foot-nine), guards Baukin and Cairo Wells (both six-footeight), forwards Wesley Ainu’u and Liam Seinen (both six-foot-seven), and Ainsley (six-foot-six). “We were pretty big last year, but CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Timberwolves expecting major improvement in their Canada West fortunes CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE most of our height was hurt. This is the biggest team I’ve ever had from a height perspective,” Jordan said. “Being big helps you defensively. If you make mistakes defensively, you can clean stuff up on the back end and things like that. I’d rather be big than small. It helps, 100 per cent.” Sungha and Baukin were key players for UNBC two seasons ago when the Timberwolves upset second-ranked Calgary to win the first medal in school history. They’re the ties that bind as leaders on the court while approaching the twilight of their university careers. “Justin is not the most natural vocal leader, but he’s gotten better at it, and him bringing that is really important for us,” Jordan said. “He’s just a good decision-maker and playmaker, and when he’s flowing and everything’s working with him, our team is much more effective.” Cedars Christian product Tony Kibonge, who joined UNBC two seasons ago after a season of volleyball and one year of basketball at Northwest College Polytechnic, has emerged as a steady performer known for his outside shooting and commitment to defence. He and Cameron Lalli are the other two fifth-year players. With so many regulars unavailable last season, players such as Kibonge, Wells, Gonzalez, Ainsley, Ainu’u, Isaiah Bias and Milan Pasquale saw more playing time, and they’re already showing the benefits. “When you’ve got guys out with injuries, it asks some of these other guys to maybe do things they’re not totally comfortable with within the role they’re in,” Jordan said. “I think that has hurt us from a results standpoint over the last couple of years, but I think it’s helped us in that guys

have learned to grow into doing some things a year or two ago they weren’t capable of, and it’s made them better players. “I like what I’ve seen from the boys in pre-season.” Caleb Lyons returned to Prince George after a season at Vancouver Island University. Despite being only in his second year of eligibility, he is one of the oldest Timberwolves. The six-foot-two guard was one of the top shooters for the Duchess Park Condors in 2019, when they won provincial bronze. The pandemic interrupted his basketball career for a couple of seasons, and he could become a major asset as one of the most athletic players on the team. Another player to watch is first-year guard Mykyta Kobuylinskyi, a native of Kyiv, Ukraine, whom Jordan rates as one of the team’s best defenders. His workhorse approach, energy in chasing opponents and willingness to dive for loose balls should earn him playing time. “He brings a spark and competitiveness and helps us with a bit of toughness, an element maybe we didn’t have last year, as far as a guy who will run through a wall,” Jordan said. “He’s really developed in the first six weeks. We’ve seen a really fast progression with his improvement.” Rookie guard Jules Tersago of Smithers, who spent some of his high school years at PGSS, injured his knee in the pre-season and will likely miss the entire season. The Timberwolves opened their season against their archrivals, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops, on Saturday at the Northern Sport Centre, losing 84-71. UNBC will travel to Kelowna to take on the UBC Okanagan Heat on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.

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Winning will be difficult for women’s basketball team MATTHEW HILLIER AND TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

There’s always room for improvement for a team that struggled mightily and won just one of their 20 games in U SPORTS Canada West women’s basketball. That was the grim reality of the 2005-26 season for the UNBC Timberwolves and while head coach Sergey Shchepotkin’s rebuilding project continues with some promising newcomers added to the fold, the odds of taking a run at the playoffs are certainly not in UNBC’s favor. The Canada West pre-season coaches’ poll has UNBC ranked 17th out of 17 and Sceptrin knows nothing short of a miracle is needed to lock up one of the 12 post-season berths and it’s not all about winning. “Our focus this season is on

establishing our identity and developing our players,” Shchepotkin said. “We want to become a team that competes for 40 minutes, plays with confidence, and makes opponents work for everything. Our success will be measured not only by wins and losses, but by our growth, our consistency, and the standards we establish every day. This season is about building something - an identity, a culture, and a program that our players can be proud of.” Shchepotkin said that the women’s team is a good mix fresh new faces and returning experienced players “We’re very excited about the season, everybody wants to play,” said Shchepotkin, now in his 14th season at the helm at UNBC. “The newcomers look pretty solid … I feel much more energy this year, a lot of players are young and we definitely need experience, but I’m happy with how they

work. It looks like everybody wants to play.” In particular, Shchepotkin highlighted the addition of twin sisters Annika and Ayanna Parr from Bella Coola. Annika, a point guard, was the tournament MVP who led the Acwsalcta Thunder to the 2026 BC School Sports single-A girls provincial championship in Langley, a 16-point win over the Cedars Christian Eagles. Ayanna, a shooting guard during her time with the Acwsalcta team, was also a two-time provincial first-team all-star. The TWolves have three returning guards who played high school ball with the College Heights Cougars. Sophia Fuller is into her fourth year, while Lorenn Caceres and Summer Toor are in their sophomore season. The other local tie, fourth-year forward Katie Shchepotkina (Sergey’s daughter), cut her high school basketball teeth playing

HARSH BANGA PHOTO

Viktoriia Filatova, a native of Moscow, Russia, is one of the standouts of the TWolves Women’s basketball team and is returning for her fourth year in the 2026-2027 Canada West season.

for the Duchess Park Condors. Despite players suffering injuries during a pre-season exhibition tournament in Edmonton in early October, Shchepotkin said the injured players are recovering well. Three hurt their ankles but have returned to practice and only first-year guard Kayleigh Kennedy, who broke her hand, is sidelined for an extended period. The College Heights Secondary School graduate is expected to return after six weeks. Shchepotkin added that out of the returning players, both from Prince George and beyond, a highlight is a fourth-year guard, Viktoriia Filatova, a native of Moscow, Russia. Filatova led the TWolves in scoring last season, averaging 13.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and proved her durability, playing all but one game as the team’s MVP. Forward Aurora Cabrera is returning for her second year after earning the TWolves’ top rookie award. “Aurora should help us a lot,” said Schepotkin. “She shows pretty solid offence, and she is pretty good on defence. We have a pretty good group of kids.” Looking at the competition, Shchepotkin knows there won’t be any easy nights for his team. “Teams are still super strong in our division; I cannot say one team is really weak team, all of them are super experienced,” he said. “Big school teams who usually are our rivals, like University of British Columbia Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University, have pretty solid rosters, and their players are pretty experienced in their fourth and fifth year. “It’s going to be difficult to play against them, but I hope for some good performances because we have a lot of talent on the team and I hope it clicks together.” The TWolves definitely put on a good performance against the TRU WolfPack during their Canada West season opener on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre. However, despite a consistent performance and a strong fourth-quarter push, the TWolves lost 69-61.

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KEVIN GIBSON/LOCAL JOURBNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER PHOTO

Kaytie (Lucille’s granddaughter) and Mitch Mintz (her son) prepare to drop the puck for Dakota Stone (nephew) and Dale Mintz (son) during the opening ceremony of the inaugural Lucille Mintz hockey tournament in March.

Lucille Mintz hockey tournament expands to six teams KEVIN GIBSON

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Lucille Mintz Memorial Co-Ed Hockey Tournament will return to Valemount Nov. 6-8 with an additional team, a full banquet and another opportunity to support local non-profit organizations. Organizer Jamie Mintz said registration filled in just two days following the success of the inaugural tournament in March. This time, six teams will compete in two brackets, with the leading teams advancing to the semifinals and final. Players register individually, and Mintz assembles balanced rosters that bring together people of different ages and abilities. “Players enter as an individual, and I draft the teams based on skill level, with a variety of ladies, young guys and old guys on each team,” Mintz said. The tournament honours Mintz’s late mother-in-law, Lucille, who died in October 2025. A longtime Valemount

resident, Lucille was an enthusiastic supporter of hockey in the valley, particularly women’s hockey. “The arena is actually where I first met Lucille when I was 15 years old and joined the ladies’ hockey team, known as the Ice Breakers at the time,” Mintz said. The inaugural tournament grew from a tribute to Lucille into a way to remember other people who contributed to the community’s hockey traditions. That recognition will expand in November with a sixth team honouring Merve Saunders, a longtime Valemount resident who coached his children’s hockey teams and often wore rubber boots on the ice. A rubber boot will appear on the team’s jersey. Team Merve Saunders will join the existing teams: Jerry Plummer Logging, Harvey Osadchuk Family, Balsam Ranch, Ellen & Todd, and Grizzly Ridge Powersports. Organizers will also bring back the Jerry Plummer Puck Toss, Rex Duncan’s MVP Award and Daniel Simard’s Award.

Mintz said families are welcome to suggest other ways to recognize loved ones who made significant contributions to hockey in Valemount. “We would love to add to the greatness of the tournament and are open to families coming forward to recognize their loved one who also had a huge impact on hockey in Valemount,” she said. Giving back remains central to the event. Organizers plan to have the top three teams select local organizations to receive their prize money. Mintz said grants from the Village of Valemount and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, along with sponsorship contributions, helped cover the inaugural tournament’s expenses and made donations possible. On Oct. 13, Valemount council approved a $696.25 grant. “This allowed us to be able to donate cash prize money to several local nonprofit organizations,” she said. The first tournament supported the

Valemount Lions Hall, Firm Foundations and the Valemount Senior Girls basketball team. An additional contribution came when Carl Forman donated his $4,000 share of the inaugural event’s 50/50 draw back to the Valemount Women’s Hockey Association, bringing the association’s proceeds from the draw to $8,000. Off the ice, November’s banquet at the Community Hall will bring participants together for a meal, sponsor recognition, awards and dancing. Organizers are seeking sponsors and welcome anyone interested in contributing to the weekend. “We value your input and appreciate your support,” Mintz said. The tournament’s top three teams will select local non-profit organizations to receive their prize money. Those who want to suggest an organization for consideration can contact Mintz at 250-566-1174. This article originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat.

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Life Events Lorraine Thelma Day

April 20, 1945 - October 14, 2026 With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Lorraine Thelma Day of Prince George BC at 81 years old . Lorraine was born in Arborfield Sask. but moved to Prince George at a young age. She is survived by her loving husband Gord, sisters Gail (Ron), Marion, and brother Rod (April). Also children Rhonda, Shannon (Mike), Spencer (Liza), Trevor, and Tracy (Mike) and numerous grandchildren. Predeceased by parents Tom & Thelma Gray, brother Kevin and brother in law Ray. Lorraine’s passion was golfing with Gord and the many Springs spent in Central California. The last few years have been very tough on Lorraine and she is finally at peace. No funeral by request. Please support the Prince George Hospice House.

Joan Alice Sande

March 18, 1932 - October 12, 2026 With heavy hearts we announce Mom’s passing. Please visit www.dignitymemorial.com for more informa on.

David Colin Fanshaw

October 27, 1939 – October 5, 2026 With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of David Colin Fanshaw of Prince George, BC, at age 86. May 19, 1943 - September 30, 2026 Lorelie (Lori) Netzel (née Woodward) was born in awa, and spent her childhood years in Plumas, Timmins, Calgary, Saskatoon, orth a leford, and Lethbridge. At the age of she a ended the niversity of Alberta, obtained her nursing creden als, and started her nursing career. At the age of she moved to onnyville where she met and married arrell etzel. They were married for years, un l arrell passed away in . A er taking a break to have her daughters, Lori returned to nursing and spent years in the hemodialysis ward at the Prince George egional ospital before re ring. nce re red, Lori and arrell relocated to the kanagan, eventually se ling in Armstrong, where she kept herself busy. She was an avid kni er, crocheter, and cross s tcher. She also loved cooking, baking, and canning produce from the garden. She is deeply missed and eternally loved by her daughters, Sandra (Cam) and anis, her brother ( ob), two grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. A church service will be held for Lori at am on ovember , , at the Armstrong Anglican Perish Pa erson Ave, Armstrong C. nterment will follow at the alkland Cemetery.

May 28, 1939 - August 21, 2026 Paddy Clarke of Parksville, BC, died of surgery complications on August 21st, 2026, in Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria at age 87. Paddy was born as Patrick William Clarke on May 28,1939 to Patrick Francis Clarke and Stella Mary Ellen Clarke (nee Courtney) in Burnaby, BC.

In Loving Memory of

Lorelie Ann Netzel

Paddy (Patrick William) Clarke

orn in Prince George, avid was a long me automo ve dealer, husband, father, grandfather, and family man. He shared 64 years of marriage and 68 years together with his beloved wife, Sharlene. e en oyed fishing, the outdoors, and family me at their cabin on ednes Lake. David is lovingly remembered by his wife, Sharlene; daughter, Jodi Blight Corrigan; grandchildren, Cole light (Mik Price) and anielle Corrigan son, Sco anshaw (Chantal) grandchildren, Jacob and Halle; sister-in-law, udith ackson nephew, ason anshaw (Carrie) and great-nephews, Caden and Hunter. He is also survived by his sisters, Hilda Cassie and family, and Sandra Springman ( oug) as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Colin Fanshaw and Anne Fanshaw; his brother, Ted Fanshaw; and his niece, Andrea Fanshaw. He is now reunited with them and his beloved pets, usty, irkley, and Musa. Family and Friends Gathering Nov 7, 2026 at The alls Golf Club ( pm pm) in Chilliwack. Forever loved and deeply missed

Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Paddy was an avid outdoorsman, SAR volunteer, and an active member of his church. Well-known as an endlessly entertaining and down-to-earth fellow with a lively sense of humour, Paddy was welcoming, kind, and generous to everyone. All were welcome at his table or on his boat. If the boat was nearly lost at sea or barely visible due to biting swarms of insects, that just made for a more colourful story around the table later. After graduating from High School in Burnaby, Paddy served several years as a mechanic in the RCAF at various bases in Eastern Canada. Returning to BC, he married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Liska, in 1968 and they raised their family in Prince George. After working for 30+ years in the local pulp mills, Paddy (at Mary’s instigation) moved to be near the ocean on Vancouver Island, where he enjoyed a pleasant retirement (including a second career as a baker) with his beloved wife of 55 years. He is sorely missed by all who knew him. Paddy’s wife Mary, son David, and brothers Walter and Courtney preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister Nora, Walter’s wife Eva, son Brian (Endie), and grandchildren Rebekah (mother Gailene), Elizabeth, and Theodore, first cousins Josephine, Jacqueline, Maureen and Danny, as well as numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins in Western Canada and the British Isles in addition to friends too numerous to mention. Services were held at the Catholic Church of the Ascension in Parksville on October 17th, with local arrangements and memorial by Yates Memorial Services.

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Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. (PRG) operates a state-of-the-art grain shipping facility on Ridley Island in Prince Rupert. The terminal receives grain by rail and processes, sorts and stores grain for loading onto ships bound for markets around the world. PRG is currently accepting resumes for the position of Operations Supervisor. Reporting to the Operations Department, this position will ensure that all operational and staff resources are fully deployed and functioning consistent with department and Company standards regarding health and safety, quality control and housekeeping. Skills Required: • Knowledge of the Bulk Terminal Operations is an asset • Self-starter • Some mechanical aptitude • MS Office and report writing talents • Time and people management • Motivational skills Qualifications: • Post-secondary degree/diploma and five years related experience or a combination of education and experience. • Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and achieve targets and meet deadlines. • Experience in Railyard Operations, Agriculture, Power Engineering or Maritime Industry would be an asset. • High comfort level working in a diverse unionized environment. PRG provides an excellent compensation package that includes pension, extended benefits plan, training, and career development opportunities. For full job description please see our website at https://prgrain.ca. Interested individuals who want to join a great team are invited to submit their resumes electronically to our website: https://prgrain.ca/human-resources. We will only accept PDF files. Applicants should indicate which position they are applying for in the message field. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted to proceed through the hiring process. Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

* On Nov. 9, 1870, the U.S. • On Sept. 1776, thetoAmerican Supreme Court7,refused submersible craftfrom Turtlethe attempted to hear a challenge attach a time bomb to theon hullthe of Britstate of Massachusetts ish Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship, constitutionality of the Vietnam Eagle, New Yorkjustices Harbor, marking War. In ain6-3 vote, the firstthe use of a submarine rejected state’s effortintowarfare. bring a suit in federal • On Sept. 8, court 1664, defending Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant hoped to resist the English but wasn’t a popular ruler, and his ARIES (March 21 totheir April 19) You might subjects refused support. New be growing impatient withchanged a situation Amsterdam’s name was to that seems to resist efforts to resolve New York in honor of the Duke of it. But staying with it raises the odds York, who organized its capture. that you’ll find a way to a successful • On Sept. 9, 1939, moviegoers at the resolution. Fox Theater in Riverside, California, were treated unexpected TAURUS (Aprilto20anto May 20) screenTravel and kinship strongMitchell’s in the Bovine’s aspect ing ofare Margaret “Gone with thisthe week. This would be theater a goodmantime to Wind,” shown by the combine two and take a trip to see ager asthe a second feature while producfamily members for a preholiday geter David O. Selznick observed their together. reactions from the back of the theater. The movie was released a few months GEMINI later. (May 21 to June 20) A colleague could make a request that you’re not • On Sept.with. 10, 1960, Doncomfortable If so,Hurricane say so. It’s better na struck thesomeone Florida Keys a Categoto disappoint byassticking 4 storm. The devastating withryyour principles than to hurricane disappoint ultimately killed more than 350 people yourself if you don’t. along its full path, including more than 150 in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, and the name “Donna” was later retired. • On Sept. 11, 1971, teen idol Donny Osmond earned his first solo No. 1 hit with “Go Away Little Girl.” For years afterward, the singer admitted he would “apologize for my career, for all of the cheesy music I was a part of,” but eventually came to terms with it and said to himself that the music “was great for what it was, people loved it, it was incredibly successful — why should I feel bad?” • On Sept. 12, 1952, residents of Flatwoods, West Virginia, while investigating a possible UFO crash, encountered a creature they described as 10 feet tall with glowing eyes and claw-like hands. Skeptics, however, dismissed their “monster” as likely an owl. • On Sept. 13, 2007, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which defined the rights of Indigenous peoples to their respective ways of life and prohibited discrimination against

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Massachusetts residents who claimed protection under a state law allowing them to refuse military service in an undeclared war. * On Nov. 10, 1928, the first installment of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel of World War I, “All Quiet on the Western Front,” debuted in the German magazine Vossische Zeitung. Released in book form in 1929, it sold a million and a half copies that year and was also adapted into an acclaimed American film in 1930. * On Nov. 11, 1988, authorities in Sacramento, California, excavated

a corpse in the lawn of 59-yearold Dorothea Puente, who had operated a residential home for elderly people. An investigation led to the discovery of six more bodies buried on her property. Puente -who was mentally ill, already had a criminal record and was suspected of additional deaths -- died in prison in 2011. * On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai,

writing, “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a search-and-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’” * On Nov. 13, 2020, Kim Ng was named general manager of the Miami Marlins, becoming not only the first woman and first person of East Asian descent to lead a Major League Baseball front office, but also the first female general manager in North American professional men’s sports history.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The Moon Child’s ability to adapt to life’s ebbs and flows helps you deal with the changes that you might confront at work or at home -- or both. Things settle down by the week’s end.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A newcomer helps keep things moving. There might be some bumpy moments along the way, but at least you’re heading in the right direction! You win praise for your choices.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) This could be a good time to begin gathering information that will help you turn a long-held idea into something substantive. Meanwhile, a personal matter might need extra attention.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s a good week for LEOs and LEOnas to get some long-outstanding business matters resolved. Then go ahead and plan a funfilled family getaway weekend with the mate and cubs!

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You could be pleasantly surprised by how a decision about one thing opens up an unexpected new option. Also, assistance on a project could come from a surprising source.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A new challenge might carry some surprises, but you should be able to handle them using what you already know. A new supporter should be there to lend assistance.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A possible workplace change seems promising. If you decide to look into it, try not to form an opinion on just a small part of the picture. Wait for the full image to develop.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) With more information to work with, you might now be able to start the process that could lead to a major change. Reserve the weekend for family and friends.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Someone might be trying to disguise their true motives. But the perceptive and perspicacious PISCES should have little to no problem finding the truth in all that foggy rhetoric!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Homes & Living

Making Your Entryway Safe for Trick-or-Treaters Halloween night is a time of fun, excitement, and community spirit. As children head out in costumes to collect candy, homeowners play a big part in keeping the evening safe and enjoyable. Whether you’re handing out treats or simply decorating your home for the occasion, it’s important to make your entryway safe for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Clear the Pathway Start by ensuring your walkway and front steps are free from hazards. Rake away leaves, move hoses or garden tools, and remove any obstacles that could cause someone to trip. If your home has uneven steps or cracked pavement, consider marking them with reflective tape or a visible decoration

to help visitors see where they’re stepping. A clutter-free path ensures excited kids—and their parents—can reach your door safely. Light It Up Good lighting is essential on Halloween night. Replace burnt-out bulbs in porch lights and consider adding temporary pathway lighting or solar lanterns along your driveway and sidewalk. Soft, warm light not only helps prevent accidents but also adds a welcoming glow to your Halloween display. Avoid using open flames in pumpkins or lanterns—batteryoperated candles or LED lights are a much safer alternative. Decorate Safely Spooky decorations are part of the

fun, but make sure they don’t create hazards. Keep hanging décor, like cobwebs or streamers, away from walkways where they might snag on costumes. Avoid placing props or extension cords where trick-or-treaters will walk. If you use inflatables or light-up displays, secure all cords neatly and check that outdoor outlets are weather-protected. Pet and Traffic Safety If you have pets, keep them indoors and away from the door during peak trick-or-treat hours. Even friendly animals can become stressed or overexcited by the constant doorbell ringing and unfamiliar costumes. Additionally, consider parking vehicles in your driveway to give children more

space to walk safely along the street. Add a Friendly Touch A safe entryway doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Consider a festive welcome mat, cheerful pumpkin display, or light-up sign to make your home inviting. If you prefer not to participate, turning off outdoor lights signals that you’re not handing out candy—helping kids and parents know where to go. By taking a few simple precautions, you can create a safe and festive environment for trick-or-treaters this Halloween. A well-lit, hazard-free entryway ensures everyone enjoys the night with plenty of fun—and no frights!

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NEW LISTING

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2026

250-562-6228 Mike Hurrell Realtor® P.R.E.C. Managing Broker 250-981-3100 10 yrs MLS Sales Award Winner 2007, 2009-2022

MLS# R3161131

Matt Petkau Realtor® 250-617-8179

MLS# R3164576

7729 EMERALD DR. $139,900

2263 NORWOOD ST. $199,900

MLS# R3160774

MLS# R3169345

2944 MEYER RD. $309,900

838 DOUGLAS ST., $329,900

MLS# R3120837

MLS# R3174158

2697 ABBOTT CRES., $455,900

6696 SIMON FRASER AVE. $455,900 MLS# R3170753

MLS# R3165851

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*No extra costs, No upfront fees - Full Service MLS Listing at just 1.95% of sale price if Buyer unrepresented OR represented by Listing Realtor Subject to Minimum of $6,495 OR 2.95% if buyer represented by another Realtor subject to minimum of $7,495.

Zaviery Dodd Realtor® 250-649-8097

ING D N E

D SOL ER TOB C O IN

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

MLS# R3145052

D SOL MBER E T P IN SE #206-2217 REGENTS CRES., $209,900

MLS# R3160279

MLS# R3149547

Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228

MLS# R3147042

FOR SALE

1459 MILBURN AVE $249,900

2066 ROSS CRES., $260,000

38 RESIDENTIAL LOTS STARTING AT $250,000 $200,000

MLS# R3172155

7843 ROCHESTER CRES., $364,900

1456-1462 MILBURN AVE $429,900

MLS# R3163777

MLS# R3138548

204-467 TABOR BLVD $459,900

5556 LEHMAN ST. $469,900

4231 MERTON CRES. $484,500

5559 HEYER RD., $529,900

MLS# R3175350

MLS# R3167231

MLS# R3123294

MLS# R3138631

9122 REYNOLDS RD., $649,900

7491 SOUTHRIDGE AVE $659,000

2870 GREENFOREST CRES. $665,000

MLS# R3157274

MLS# R3175736

2864 CALHOUN CRES., $624,900

MLS# R3172570

Joy Paul Realtor® 778-681-8474

MLS# R3170321

DIN N E P 1716 SHADY VALLEY RD., $584,900

Amit Luthra Realtor® 250-981-9090

Grace Purdey Realtor® 250-612-2238

MLS# R3172155

7545 POOLEY RD. $439,900

PRE-REGISTER AT www.TynerRidgeEstates.ca

ING

D PEN

1454 N. BLACKBURN RD $649,900 MLS# R3164410

LOTS FOR SALE

2746 PINE ST., $39,900 - MLS R3140749

LOT 2 COLUMBIA RD - 4.15 AC $379,900 - MLS R3152769 Lot 6, WESTERN PROPERTIES $199,900 - MLS R3086053

4605 GANNETT RD $759,000

7614 ST. ANDREW CRT,. $799,900

6281 N. NECHAKO RD. $849,900

7756 N. NECHAKO RD. $899,900

4830 REEVES RD. $980,900

Lot 9, WESTERN PROPERTIES $199,900 - MLS R3086135