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Civic facilities: $892M price tag Citizen Staff

Prince George city council has had its first look at the plan that will help guide the city’s investments and management of civic facilities over the next two decades. The Civic Facilities Master Plan was presented to council Wednesday, Sept. 23, outlining the condition of the city’s facilities, anticipated renewal and redevelopment needs, and the potential investments required over the next 20 years. Updating the plan was identified as a council priority in its 2023-2026 strategic plan to provide transparency about civic facilities and help with future planning. Kristy Bobbie, project lead for the

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Exterior scaffolding and shrink wrap are seen on the exterior of the Prince George Aquatic Centre as renovations continue. The pool is one of several city-owned properties included in a civic facilities plan presented to council on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

eventually pay off.

“

MATTHEW HILLIER

civic facilities master plan, said in a Monday, Sept. 21, interview with The Citizen that the project will help correctly identify what needs to be done. “Master planning is very important for municipalities because, without it, it’s difficult to know what we need to do over the next 20-year horizon without having this roadmap that really tells us approximately how much money we need, when things should be done and just really setting us up for making sure that we’re following good asset management practices,” said Bobbie. The city said it has been working with consulting and engineering firm AECOM to complete the work, with the plan addressing civic facilities’ aging infrastructure, changing service and space needs, accessibility, long-term resilience, broader land-use and community planning, rising construction costs and other factors.

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P PR R II N NC CE E G GE EO OR RG GE E C C II T T II Z ZE EN N

BC Conservatives in turmoil as snap election looms CITIZEN STAFF

The past few days have reshaped BC’s political landscape, with Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad returning to the Conservative caucus and Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird finding a new political home with CentreBC. As this edition of The Citizen went to press, the province was waiting to learn whether Premier David Eby would call a snap election to capitalize on the turmoil among the Official Opposition, which included the sudden resignation of party leader Kerry-Lynn Findlay, Rustad was expelled from the Conservative caucus Friday, Sept. 18, by Findlay, along with former interim leader Trevor Halford and Skeena MLA Claire Rattée. Findlay resigned two days later,

after more MLAs left the party. On Monday, Sept. 21, Rustad announced he had accepted an invitation from newly appointed interim leader Rustad Lorne Doerkson to return to caucus. Doerkson subsequently announced that five MLAs had rejoined the Conservative fold: Rustad, Halford, Rattée, Linda Hepner and Scott McInnis. Rustad said he was returning to work with the party rather than trying to shape its future from outside. Rustad also praised Doerkson and called for renewed efforts to bring the

Conservatives and CentreBC together, saying BC could not afford a divided opposition. His return came only days after Bird and seven other former BC Conservatives moved in the opposite direction. On Friday, Sept. 18, Bird joined Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar and six other former Conservatives in moving to CentreBC, with Milobar taking over as leader of the party. The move created a new eight-member caucus and made CentreBC the third-largest party in the legislature. Bird, who left the Conservative caucus in August, said Saturday that she initially planned to sit as an independent but decided to join Milobar because she believed the group was serious about creating an alternative for voters.

“I knew that BC voters needed something else,” she said. Bird said she had spent years helping build the Conservative brand, including Bird working with Rustad, but no longer believed there was a future for the party in the province. She said the possibility of a snap election accelerated the decision. With CentreBC already registered as a political party, Bird said the new party already has the organizational structure that makes it ready to compete in an election on short notice.

Facilities include arenas, pools, fire halls and the library CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Prince George currently owns 56 civic facilities representing approximately 1.7 million square feet and holding a replacement value of $787 million. Replacement values are said to represent a high-level estimated cost to replace the city’s existing facilities with new assets that provide a similar service and do not represent the full cost of facility redevelopment. The plan identified significant redevelopment and renewal initiatives that are anticipated to shape future investment decisions, including: • Renewal and redevelopment of the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre • Renewal of the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library • Planning and replacement of Kopar Memorial Arena • Planning and replacement of Fire Hall No. 2 • Redevelopment and modernization of the 18th Avenue works yard facilities • Renewal of major recreation

facilities, including the Aquatic Centre, CN Centre and Elksentre Arena Evaluation and potential replacement, consolidation, redevelopment or relocation of several cultural and community facilities, including the PG Playhouse, Studios 2820/2880, animal shelter and Connaught Youth Centre. Long-term planning for Civic Core facilities and related downtown parking infrastructure. “Kopar, I would say, that’s probably the No. 1 priority, but there are other buildings that need renewals because of their age,” said Bobbie. “They are more than in the middle of their life. For example, the CN Centre. Getting work done on those types of facilities that have been around since the 1990s, those big facilities that serve many, many community members as well as regionally. Those are pretty important buildings.” Each of the 56 facilities has been assigned at least one leading direction over the 20-year horizon. These include plans to maintain, renew, redevelop, replace, divest or decommission, or pursue other alternatives for civic

facilities across Prince George. The report estimates that the necessary investment and maintenance across all facilities will total $892 million over the next two decades, an average of approximately $45 million per year. The city’s media release outlined that this cost does not reflect a lack of maintenance, but rather the age of the buildings, as well as updated regulations for safety, accessibility and environmental requirements. “Prince George’s physical growth in the 1970s led to overinvestments in infrastructure, including civic facilities. The period of growth and population expansion was so significant that much of the city’s current infrastructure dates from before 1980,” the statement said. Bobbie told The Citizen how this is causing issues with city development and facility renewal. “Planners at the time were expecting to have a lot of population by now and it didn’t happen,” said Bobbie. “Our population’s been pretty stagnant over the decades and so we’re left with a whole bunch of infrastructure spread across a big city and not a lot of residents. And so that’s led us to

where we are now. It’s expensive to renew and replace these assets that we have that are coming to the end of their life.” The report’s estimates are preliminary planning-level costs designed to prioritize projects and are subject to change as facility size, scope, design and site requirements are confirmed. In a press release, the city clarified that these investment requirements are currently not approved funding commitments. The investments will be subject to future council consideration through annual budget and capital planning processes. The master plan has also been created in conjunction with the Civic Core District Plan (CCDP) business case to ensure alignment. The CCDP hopes to establish a broader vision and development framework for downtown, while the civic facilities master plan provides facility-specific analysis. The council meeting described in this story took place after this edition of The Citizen went to press. See updates at pgcitizen,ca, and read our editorial on this subject on Page 8.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

No helipad for UHNBC, infrastructure minister says COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A helipad won’t be built as part of the acute care tower expansion at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, but the government is looking at other options, the province’s infrastructure minister tells The Citizen. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the City of Prince George and Regional District of Fraser-Fort George issued joint statements calling on the province to include a helipad as part of the project, stating that UHNBC is the only major regional hospital in the province without one. “Based on existing land-use plans, conflicts with current users, impacts to nearby residents and existing utilities, it is the city’s position that no off-site option on municipal land is currently feasible,” the City’s statement said. A helipad was promised by the provincial government before the 2024 election and Premier David Eby made it

a part of his re-election platform. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma told The Citizen in a statement on Friday, Sept. 18 that the acute care tower project will not include a helipad, but that her government commits to building one elsewhere. “Onsite options for a helipad were thoroughly assessed by Northern Health and were found to have negative impacts on clinical operations and clinical care,” Ma said. “Options adjacent to the hospital have been identified which allow for more efficient patient transport to the emergency department and better patient care throughout the hospital. “Work continues with the City of Prince George, the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District and Northern Health to identify a path forward. Our priority is finding a solution that supports improved patient care and can be delivered quickly so people can benefit from this service.

“My ministry will continue to work with our partners to deliver a helipad and improve care for people in the region.” Ma’s statement came after city leaders from across Northern BC advocated at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention (UBCMC) in Vancouver for a helipad to be included in the business plan for the upcoming acute care tower in Prince George. Northern leaders spoke outside the convention to urge Northern Health and the province to ensure the helipad goes forward as the acute care tower moves closer to its groundbreaking. The City of Prince George is the only major regional and referral trauma centre in BC without a helipad. UHNBC provides specialized care for approximately 350,000 people across the North, making it the second-busiest air ambulance destination in the province. This means that since 1993, those airlifted to Prince George have needed to land at the Prince George Airport and

then be driven to the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC), a 15-minute ambulance ride away. UHNBC has received a total of 109 patients who were airlifted to the Prince George Airport and then transferred to the hospital. UHNBC has also transferred 130 patients by air to other hospitals in BC. However, the city states that neither the initial plan nor the significant redesign of the tower accounts for a helipad on the hospital campus. City staff have also completed a thorough review of municipal land options near UHNBC for alternatives for the helipad. The city states that, based on existing land-use plans, conflicts with current users, impacts on nearby residents and existing utilities, it is the city’s position that no off-site option on municipal land is currently feasible. It states the helipad at the acute care tower remains the most logical and viable option. With files from Matthew Hillier

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TSB sets timeline for plane crash investigation COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada has ordered a medium-length investigation into a Prince George plane crash that left one person dead in August. A twin-engine aircraft operated by Sekani Air made an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard, about a kilometre from North Nechako Road on Thursday, Aug. 20. None of the crew or passengers in the plane were killed, but a woman inside a vehicle on the ground died after it was struck during the landing. TSB media relations co-ordinator Liam MacDonald said in a Thursday, Sept. 17 email that the TSB has classified the investigation as Class 3. The TSB puts investigations

into one of six categories. The lower the number, the more complex the investigation and the longer the timeline is for it to be completed. A Class 3 investigation is considered “detailed” with a high level of effort, a high level of investment, medium complexity and medium length. The timeline for completing a Class 3 investigation is 450 days. MacDonald added that the investigation is entering the “examination and analysis phase,” which could involve the reviewing of records, lab testing, data analysis, simulations or reconstruction, autopsy reports, follow-up interviews and determining the sequence of events. After that phase, a report will be drafted and made publicly available once reviewed.

Red Rock weigh station being rebuilt after fire TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Nearly two years after the Red Rock Inspection Station was torched and completely destroyed by a suspected arsonist, the provincial government announced on Monday, Sept. 21 its plan to rebuild the Highway 97 facility, 30 kilometres south of Prince George. Construction has now begun on the commercial vehicle inspection station and the $9.2 million project has been awarded to Northern BC-based contractor IDL Projects Inc. The project will build a new commercial vehicle inspection building, replace the destroyed weigh scale

building and complete site servicing facilities with civil and engineering infrastructure. The second building will expand operational capacity and is expected to reduce the time it takes for an inspection to get drivers back sooner behind the wheel. When complete, sometime in December 2027, the upgraded station will serve the growing volumes of northbound and southbound traffic on Highway 97, strengthening enforcement of a key northern freight corridor. The fire forced CVSE officers to relocate to other inspection facilities in Prince George, Vanderhoof and Quesnel and conduct mobile patrols and enforcement of safety rules.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Susan Scott withdraws from city council race MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Coun. Susan Scott won’t be running for re-election after all. Scott served three full terms as a city councillor after originally getting elected in 2014. She has also served on committees tackling topics like homelessness and affordable housing, finance and audit and recently intergovernmental relations. “This decision is mine,” Scott said in a Wednesday, Sept. 16 media release. “I am supported by family and friends in this decision, this support has held me throughout my municipal career. Honesty is a virtue that I treasure and I appreciate its presence.” In an interview with The Citizen, Scott explained her decision. “There’s an awful lot going on in my life right now and I’m choosing to put my energy elsewhere,” Scott said. “That’s the simplest way I can put it. There are health issues happening for someone

within my family that I’m supporting and I want to be there on the ground.” Going forward, Scott said she wants to put more energy towards SCOTT organizations and groups that are close to her heart that she couldn’t while serving as a councillor. “I also stopped and looked at all of the different things that I do and there isn’t anything on that list that I couldn’t do as not a city councillor,” said Scott. “For example, the Prince George Council of Seniors, being involved with the senior activity centres, the Legion. There’s all sorts of things that I had hesitated to be more involved because I did not feel it was appropriate as an elected person.” One of her favourite memories during her three terms, she said, was working

towards making the Medal of Excellence and Good Citizenship a possibility and serving on various committees. “I have felt privileged to be part of the committee for intergovernmental affairs and to go on outreach with provincial and federal governments,” she said. “But it’s really walking the streets, talking with people, listening to what the citizens of this city want and need and trying to find the best ways possible for that to happen.” She also shared some wisdom for those still running for a seat on city council. “Slow down and be fully attentive to the process of running and to be prepared for each of the forums that come and to communicate effectively, not only within the forums, but with each other.” She said she hopes the citizens of Prince George engage with the upcoming election and expressed gratitude to the citizens of the city. “I ask every citizen of Prince George to become informed and to fully participate

in the 2026 municipal election. I have long said that I cannot know the mind of each person in the city without their participation and communication. This is a strong and valuable asset that must be exercised. Gratitude is too small a word when your heart is full, but it’s the best word to express to this city my appreciation for this season of serving the citizens of Prince George.” Scott’s media release added that she has seen division on the current city council and is concerned that this division will remain following the upcoming election. “An effective city council must work together to serve the needs of the community,” said Scott. “This most recent term has been marked by sharp divisions that have impeded our fulfillment of that role. What is unfolding in this election suggests that the coming term will be even more fractious and divided. This is not a response worthy of the community, and not one that I want to be a part of.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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Crime, housing high on mayoral candidate’s list Former WorkSafe health and safety officer is running for top job TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Randy Danchuk has lived in Prince George 47 years and like most residents, he’s concerned with what’s been happening to the downtown core. There’s too much illicit drug use, too many vacant buildings, too many littered streets and not enough people looking after their neighbours. Downtown is deteriorating and Danchuk said he wants to put a stop to that. He’s decided to run for mayor in the Saturday, Oct. 17 municipal election. He wants Prince George to be a place people want to be, where they will feel safe and will want to take advantage of business opportunities. “You can bitch and complain all you want, but if you don’t do anything about it you’re just bitching and complaining,” said Danchuk, when asked why he’s joined the nine-candidate mayor’s race. “I am worried about what’s happening in the city. It used to be everybody looking out for everybody else but it’s kind of changed. All the open drug use bothers me a lot. I was just raised that you need to be responsible.” He said tackling the drug problem would help the city save money on its $38 million policing budget, which he said works out to $270,000 for each of the 130 RCMP members in the city. “In BC we had that temporary drug program where a lot of drugs became legal to possess in small amounts,” Danchuk said. “That program ended on January 31 of this year and the provincial and federal government have not renewed it, so I don’t understand why we have open drug use when it’s not legal anymore.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Randy Danchuk is among nine candidates running for the Prince George mayor’s office in the Oct. 17 municipal election.

He said voters are fed up with repeat offenders getting a slap on the wrist for property crimes and the police are powerless to try to prevent them from repeating their crimes with a backlogged court system that makes it difficult to prosecute. “My dad always taught us that you need to do something good for somebody that you don’t know, every day, whether it’s just opening a door or being polite,” said Danchuk. “I’ve always gone out of my way to never

drive by anybody stranded. “We can’t fix downtown by a bunch of guys going down there and kicking a bunch of guys out and forcing them into rehab, it has to be community, the police, the different Native associations, the Salvation Army. If we don’t work as a community then we’re just fighting each other.” Danchuk grew up with seven siblings on his parents’ poultry farm in Edmonton on the site that became the West Edmonton Mall.

He worked as a carpenter until a workplace injury forced a career switch. He made the move to Prince George from Trail when he was 22. He earned his power engineer/ hazardous materials technician tickets and later became a WorkSafe occupational health and safety officer, training construction companies how to keep their workers safe. He also taught courses at the College of New Caledonia, where some of his students were inmates waiting to get out of jail. At 69, he lives on his pension with his wife of 40 years, Melody, a longtime food service worker at UNBC, in the Westwood subdivision. He said Prince George deserves a better transit system and improvements to curbs and sidewalks to make it safer for pedestrians to navigate. Danchuk is also concerned about the city spending every year to mark bike lanes, suggesting that money would be better spent improving the city’s river trail system. “People are really pissed off about that because we have a low percentage of cyclists and if you do ride a bike you know where to ride,” he said. “We have people saying you’re spending a million dollars on bike lanes but you’re not helping with busses. I’m a PG guy and I don’t want taxes to double in the last five years like they’ve done.” Danchuk has two friends who lost their homes in recent years, forced to sell them because they could not afford property taxes. He’s been in that same boat in his own past, forced to cut back on food or rely on food banks to pay household bills. He said city council can do more to work with other levels of government to establish subsidized housing programs, especially for seniors, and encourage builders to bring row housing projects to the market and rent-to-own programs to help people get their foot in the door.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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OPINION

Civic facilities will always have to be a spending priority KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

Prince George’s civic facilities are the physical backbone of our community. They make up about 1.7 million square feet of building area over 56 facilities with a combined replacement value of $787 million. From our public safety buildings, fire halls and work yards to our major recreation centres, aquatic complexes and cultural hubs, these publicly owned places make our city livable, attract new residents and drive vital economic investment. However, after decades of evolving community needs and normal wear and tear, combined with successive councils deferring maintenance, we have reached a critical crossroads. Council received a report on city facilities at Wednesday night’s meeting. Now that they have it, we encourage councillors — whether the current ones, or those elected next month — to vote to properly fund the maintenance, repair and strategic renewal of public facilities. This isn’t just a budgetary expense. It’s a foundational investment in our community’s resilience. Proactive work and routine lifecycle maintenance done today save taxpayers millions of dollars down the road by avoiding catastrophic structural failures, emergency repairs and exorbitantly expensive, premature replacements. We can’t ignore the facts laid out in the report. Out of our 56 facilities, at least 18 are rapidly reaching a stage

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE PHOTO

The Aquatic Centre will be closed for two years as extensive renovations are carried out on the interior and exterior of the building.

where significant change, major system upgrades or complete redevelopment are urgently needed. Expenditures over the past three years show an average annual capital and operating maintenance spending of $12.2 million, but the sheer scale of deferred needs demands a higher level of commitment. Consider the pressures facing our key sectors. As has been previously identified in the Civic Core District Plan, crucial assets like the Kopar Memorial Arena, PG Playhouse and Studio 2880 have reached the end of their lifecycle. This comes alongside necessary system renewals currently underway at the Aquatic Centre and the CN Centre. However, as identified in the report, additional funding will be required to maintain each of these facilities as well as the Canfor Leisure Pool. Meanwhile, our public safety infrastructure — including vital fire halls like Fire Hall No. 2 on Ospika Boulevard and older administrative operations — require sustained capital investment to maintain

safety standards, regulatory compliance and reliable emergency response. It’s clear that from downtown parkades to cultural spaces, physical condition, layout, accessibility and user capacity are all under strain. From the taxes collected each year, the General Infrastructure Reinvestment Fund receives $7,127,737. Making this vision a reality requires acknowledging a hard truth: $7,127,737 is not enough. The Civic Facilities Master Plan calls for significantly more to properly fund the facilities our community relies on. Yes, we are calling for a tax increase to help maintain our civic facilities. But let’s be completely honest about how the city should use our tax dollars: On tangible, bricks-and-mortar infrastructure that we actually need, rely on and use every single day. It’s time to stop funneling public money into administrative advocacy junkets, unnecessary travel or low-attendance public gatherings that appeal only to a select few. As well, the next council needs to look

hard at the 11 facilities that are recommended to be divested or decommissioned. Doing so would this save the city maintenance and replacement costs and allow those tax dollars to be used for higher priority needs. Real municipal leadership means prioritizing core services over fringe pet projects. Fortunately, city staff’s comprehensive Civic Facilities Master Plan provides a clear, data-driven 20-year roadmap to manage our portfolio effectively. Backed by rigorous condition assessments that first began in 2009 and using tools like the BUILDER Management System implemented in 2015, the Master Plan offers mayor and council a framework to balance aging infrastructure, rising construction costs and accessibility standards. Whether it’s maintaining community centres, renewing major recreation complexes or upgrading public safety buildings, a staged approach ensures that essential public services remain uninterrupted. By addressing lifecycle pressures and making smart, coordinated decisions now, we protect public safety and ensure long-term value. It’s worth both. Our community deserves council leadership that has the courage to prioritize the essentials. Let’s urge them to invest in Prince George’s backbone, support sustainable growth and build a resilient city for the long haul. We’ve run out of road to kick the can further down.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

OPINION Trucking crash shaped Prince George hockey legend Dave Bellamy’s future

Anyone who has won that show not only has to be good in the bush, but they also need some sort of luck on their side.

Jason Bourdon

Zangief

I had no idea Dave was so involved in minor hockey. Both my daughters played minor hockey here throughout their adolescence and teenage years. It’s great to hear that, very early on, he was once again ahead of his time by !ghting for girls’ admission into hockey. I said this before, but Prince George has lost a great citizen. My father worked for Dave and helped with the university and the Building Forests for the World. I worked for Dave, too. He was a great boss. My condolences to his family. Prince George trucking company to lose 90% of its workers Brad Evans This is truly unfortunate news. Excel Transportation has been a reliable and respected employer in our community for many years, creating good jobs and supporting countless families. The Andersen family deserves recognition for their dedication to their employees through both good times and challenging ones. The loss of these jobs serves as a reminder of the serious issues facing BC’s forest industry. Current government policies have played a signi!cant role in creating an increasingly dif!cult operating environment for forestry companies and the businesses that depend on them. Our communities need a renewed focus on policies that encourage investment, competitiveness and long-term stability in the forest sector.

Fantastic! I think it’s incredible you survived out there alone for so many days. When I heard about all the rabbits, I wondered about protein poisoning. This editorial cartoon was created by a human artist using digital and arti!cial intelligence tools. CITIZEN CARTOON BY MICHAEL KAST

UHNBC acute care tower won’t include helipad: infrastructure minister BGeez How about building a helipad on the empty !eld area that used to be the soapbox derby track in the ’60s, bordered by Massey Drive and 15th Avenue, and then constructing a covered overhead or underground conveyor belt that could transport the patient from the helipad right into the ER? How cool would that be! Sea K Don’t give them any ideas — now they’ll probably try and do it.

I have lots of ideas. J Jonah Jameson Better yet, one of those pneumatic tubes like the ones they used to use at Costco to move cash. Just ask the patient to hold their breath while they rocket across to the ER at 70 km/h. BGeez It’s obvious that, with our minds working together, we can come up with a solution. But !rst, we need NH to make us VPs of helipads — starting salary for each of us: $400,000 a year! Alone TV contestant Aaron Barnard taps out a finalist

BGeez

Chestor

On second thought, my idea of the conveyor belt is too expensive.

Anyone who thinks he gave up and that what he did was easy hasn’t spent a cold, wet night in the bush. He showed the true grit of a Canadian with will and has absolutely nothing to regret.

A better proposal is to build an elevated helipad in that !eld with a long slide attached that would allow the patient to slide into the ER.

But for a bit of tough luck, he would have been the champion.

An impressive feat few people could match! A true testament to your determination and grit! EDITORIAL: Take the time to learn about the school board election Susan Jensen For me, I am looking closely at those who are putting the students !rst and themselves last. I am looking at those who think more assistants to the teachers are needed in the classroom. I will not be voting for anyone who has extreme, toxic opinions about the society we live in today. Teachers and students are the priority. I agree with those who want to bring basic courses to students about how to cope with everyday life. A well-educated child holds the key to our future. They spend years sitting at a desk, but when they graduate, not all will be working at a desk. I am very impressed with the vision of some new candidates. Good luck.

Share your views on our stories at pgcitizen.ca

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

NEWS

P PR R II N NC CE E G GE EO OR RG GE E C C II T T II Z ZE EN N

Former city planner seeking a seat at council table COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A former planner for the City of Prince George launched her bid to join city council with a couple of endorsement from incumbents on Thursday, Sept. 10. More than 60 people gathered at the Hart Highlands Winter Club to hear Nicole Fraser, co-founder of local business Praxis Solutions, articulate her platform and explain the meaning of her campaign slogan “expect better.” “We need optimism, we need people to actually have a vision and really want to bring people together and want to find solutions,” Fraser said. “Stop being so polarizing and divisive.” Prince George is a northern community and needs northern solutions, she said, because it has a different geography and economy. As the northern hub for health care, education, business and recreation, Fraser said Prince George has both

responsibilities and opportunities. “Our region is helping build the country’s future,” she said. “We need to insist that investment builds our future here too.” Fraser She said that means local hiring and training, contracts for local businesses, respect for Indigenous rights and meaningful partnerships with First Nations, protection for the environment, growth contributing to infrastructure and senior government providing a fair share of the wealth generated to invest in services and infrastructure. In the city’s downtown, she said there are 36 organizations that have received more than $180 million in provincial funding and employ seven per cent of the local workforce. These organizations, she said, do good work but it is done in isolation

and they compete for resources when they could be sharing knowledge. Earlier this year, council discussed the possibility of opening a navigation centre that would help people access social and health services. Fraser said she’d like to make that a reality. Fraser said she’d also like to have the city expect the owners of vacant properties and absentee landlords to do their part to maintain buildings and bring them back into use. Public notices should be put back in the newspaper, she said, because residents who don’t go online deserve to know what is happening in their city. Having worked on both sides of the counter at city hall, she said the city needs to establish clear requirements, consistent answers and make timely decisions for development. She also said the city needs to promote a more respectful workplace at city hall, which she later told The Citizen was based on her own experiences as a former employee.

In a follow-up interview the next morning, Fraser said she feels that council needs to more directly manage city policies and break down silos between departments, as well as expand public conversations between councillors and staff. On the Civic Core Plan, which could include the replacement of Kopar Memorial Arena and the construction of a new performing arts centre, she said it will be an important part of the city’s future, but that PG should look for partners to help fund construction. Though a few city council candidates were in attendance for the event, incumbent councillors Trudy Klassen and Brian Skakun were invited to speak about why they are throwing their support behind Fraser. Skakun said he came to appreciate Fraser while she worked for the city and felt her experience as an employee and someone who has dealt with it externally would be helpful. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Retired firefighter looking to make a splash at city hall MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Dan Pears, a retired firefighter who has served the city for three decades, is hoping to bring his expertise to city council. Pears told The Citizen in a Tuesday, Sept. 15 interview that one of the main reasons he is running for a seat is that he wants to drive change rather than just sit back and watch. “Like most people, I’m pretty good at sitting on the couch and complaining about things,” said Pears. “I decided to put my money where my mouth is, roll up my sleeves and put some of my years of experience working on the streets of Prince George for thirty years to good use.” He said he believes his experience as a firefighter has given him both leadership ability and excellent crisis management, which he views as important traits for a municipal official to have.

Having dealt firsthand with the problems downtown during his career, Pears said he has insight into the situation that is different from other potential Pears councillors. “I’ve seen the fires and the medical issues, the homelessness. We deal with it all day and all night long. I’ve seen how our businesses are pretty much under siege downtown. I want to put my energy into trying to help mitigate those issues as best I can, whether that’s going after the province or taking care of what the city can take care of, whether it’s better lighting or cleaning up hazards in a timely fashion,” said Pears. Communication was also a key point of contention for Pears, saying he’s seen communication silos in town that he

thinks are detrimental to residents and the city itself. Pears said he wants to advocate for city officials, stakeholders, local businesses and first responders to all be kept in the same loop and that opinions on change, challenges and more should all be shared in these groups and with the public. “There seems to be a lot of silos as far as communication and what’s being done as far as the mental health aspect downtown. These people all operate over here. The police department does their thing over here. The fire department does their response and then they go away and do their thing. So I’d like to bring that together, more communication between all the stakeholders, and then keep the public updated on what’s going on,” said Pears. He said that he believes a lot of the issues faced by Prince George need to be tackled with provincial resources and outlined how he would work if elected to

advocate for this city to those in Victoria. “We need to make it very clear to the province the ramifications that the cities are dealing with,” said Pears. “Whether they’re cutting back our budgets or downloading responsibilities that shouldn’t really be the city’s responsibilities. The best we can do is advocate and be a real pain in the side of the provincial government. They’re not friends of mine. I’m here to advocate for Prince George.” If elected, Pears said he wants to gather northern towns and cities facing similar issues that should present a unified front when talking to the province. “I would want to bring a coalition of the city representatives together and have a huge, strong voice all as one … I think it has more power and more force if we can get all the cities together and really get on the province that you have to change, and make it known to them that everybody is against them on this.” Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Longest-tenured councillor running for re-election COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George’s longest-serving incumbent on city council says he entered the previous term thinking it might be his last but was convinced to run for re-election over the last year by community members. Brian Skakun has been a councillor since 2002 and is asking to be returned to office again this fall even though he said some people were encouraging him to run for mayor. “I love the job,” Skakun said in a Friday, Sept. 11 interview. “It’s not always easy but it’s very rewarding and I still think I have a lot to offer.” One of his biggest priorities if re-elected is to improve the city’s development services department. He said it’s been understaffed and has contracted out a lot of work. “A lot of developers, they’re not satisfied with our timelines,” Skakun said. “As we get more and more development

in our community, especially commercial, we have to make sure the turnaround times are as quick and efficient as possible.” Improving the Skakun speed in which files are handled, he said, would send a message to developers that the city is open for business and make it easier to attract investment. Skakun said it’s an exciting time for Prince George with Vitreo Minerals working on a silica mine north of town, billions of dollars in mining projects earmarked for Northern BC and more. The city is working on a resource benefit agreement so that it can have a share on the taxation from these projects, which Skakun said is important given the downturn in the forestry industry. The impending closure of Northwood Pulp Mill later this year will be a big hit

to the city’s tax base, Skakun said, but hopefully workers affected by the move will be able to reskill and work for one of these other projects. On city finances, Skakun said in 2025 there was about $20 million worth of capital projects for which the city collected taxes but didn’t complete the work. In the new term, he said he’d like council to take a serious look at the capital process to make sure that the city isn’t collecting more taxes than it needs. He said he’s concerned about the state of policing in the city, saying it’s his understanding that while there are supposed to be at least 15 RCMP officers on duty at a time, including four focused on the downtown cure, it has been as low as eight at times. Going forward, he said he’d like the local RCMP detachment present to council at least once a quarter to discuss response times, crime trends, neighbourhood policing and the downtown core. Referencing a report from city administration that estimated around $25 million

in costs passed down to Prince George from higher levels of government over the last five year, Skakun said the city needs to continue fighting for them to fulfill their responsibility and provide earlier intervention. On the Civic Core Plan, which could include the replacement of Kopar Memorial Arena and the construction of a new performing arts centre, he said he had concerns about following through on potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in spending as the city’s tax base erodes. If it goes forward, he said he’d like the city to put the matter to a referendum rather than the Alternative Approval Process, which he called “anti-democratic.” The last four years on council have been challenging and there have been some unproductive meetings, he said. In the next term, he’s hoping the new council will get on the same page and work together despite any differences there might be. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Youngest council candidate wants youth to stay in Prince George MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Dan Pears, a retired firefighter who has At 20 years old, Tucker Krause is the youngest person running to be a Prince George city councillor and he’s hoping to bring a youthful perspective to the city. Krause is currently a second-year economics student at the University of Northern British Columbia. He’s also active in local matters, serving on the constituency association for the BC Conservatives in Prince George-Mackenzie and on the electoral district association for the federal Tories in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies. He told The Citizen that part of the reason he threw his hat in the ring is he wants to see more young people like himself stay in Prince George. “A lot of my friends are choosing to move away from town. They might finish their degree at UNBC and move away. My

goal is to try and bring that youth perspective and that more direct connection to them, to be able to hopefully, build Prince George into a place that is more Krause appealing to these young professionals,” said Krause. He believes that for more young people to stay, the area, especially downtown, needs to be more attractive to those who are in their early and mid-twenties. “That ultimately comes down to making Prince George a more entertaining, exciting town. We have a lot of beautiful outdoors for people to access, but at our size of city, I think a lot of people would appreciate a more attractive core that feels safer to them and is more attractive, with more entertainment,” said Krause. Krause said that in order to do this,

there needs to be more density and infill downtown and to have more people staying downtown past dark. He said that one of the ways to help revitalize downtown is to bring back the Downtown Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw, which was sunsetted on Sept. 30, 2024. This bylaw, Krause said,can provide a tax incentive for developers to build higher-density housing downtown, which could bring more foot traffic and investment. As well, he added that another solution is to review vacant lots downtown and see how these can be improved or converted into higher-density housing. “The other one would be going through and reviewing some of the empty lots that Prince George owns or the city government owns and seeing which of these are underutilized the most, that maybe would be the most practical to potentially lease to a developer,” said Krause. However, said he believes that in regard to increasing density, it should be highly

focused on specific areas to cut down on costs and not replace the identity of existing neighbourhoods. “I do believe that density and infill should be focused exclusively in downtown and other commercial or educational areas. I am not in favour of densifying existing neighbourhoods because I believe when you do that, you’re essentially uprooting the personality of this existing single-family home neighbourhood,” said Krause. He said he’s also in favour of building more public bathrooms downtown and believes there should be more economic diversification, as forestry has faced a recent downturn. Ultimately, he said he wants to become involved in making change in the city instead of sitting back. “It comes down to this. I don’t want to be someone who sort of just complains all the time about what I see. I want to do my best to try and make things better,” said Krause. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

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David Low taking another shot at SD57 board MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

After a previous attempt in a 2023 byelection, David Low is taking another shot at a seat on School District 57’s board of education. Low said he’s a former school principal, is the president and/or treasurer of various non-profit charities and runs AAA Credit Counsellors. This, he said, gives him the experience he needs to sit on the board. “I had an opportunity to help people with their finances, get out of debt and to teach them how to manage their money and to prosper … I have a very high sense of proper education, common sense in education in properly preparing students for what comes after graduation,” said Low in a Friday, Sept. 11 interview. He said he believes the top three issues facing SD57 are parent involvement, the improvement of educational

standards and school safety. “Parent rights in the classroom have been kind of left off the radar,” said Low. “Many things happen in schools that Low the parents are not informed of … We have a wrong view from our left-wing provincial government that says that students belong to the community, in this case the government, because they’re all government employees and therefore the parents should not or would not understand or does not have the right to know. I say the parents should have a right to know.” Low said he believes school safety should be a priority. “I’ve had complaints about kids vaping in the bathrooms making them unsafe, boys in girls’ bathrooms making

the girls feel unsafe, and general misconduct … I’m much for the students’ safety,” said Low. As well, Low said that another focus should be increasing enrolment and believes that students are being pulled out of SD57 schools frequently. “We have an exodus in this town of parents taking the kids out of our schools because of the poor standards that we have, homeschoolers have quadrupled and all private schools have a waiting list, but we have 50 per cent fewer kids in our system than we did 10 years ago,” said Low. More parents would re-enroll if the visibility and quality of the public school system were paramount concerns and it would attract more investment from both parents and the government. Low said that he believes that sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) teachings are one of the reasons why some parents are pulling out of SD57.

“I am not happy with the proliferation of SOGI, which a lot of parents disagree with,” said Low. “I believe it is the biggest drain of children and students from our public educational system. Parents just don’t like it. So I say we need to downplay the SOGI thing and up play the quality of education.” Low also said he believes that in SD57, students are not being properly challenged and that more systems, grants and bursaries should be in place to encourage students of different ability levels. “If they are hands-on people, then are we giving them opportunity to explore the hundreds of trades that are available? If they have a high IQ, are we challenging them? They need to be challenged. Students need to be given good self-confidence, and they need to be motivated to achieve. I’m afraid our system rewards you for doing nothing,” said Low. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

responsibilities with the times of changing economy. So, I think we have a lot of work to do.” McCrory said she felt that over the past three years, trustees — with the help of McCrory staff and schools — have been able to accomplish the core work that every board is responsible for. While the incumbent trustees don’t agree on everything, McCrory said she felt they played a part in stabilizing the district, including having a superintendent last more than a year. Between 2015 and March 2024, the district went through seven superintendents before Supt. Jameel Aziz was hired. Though the trajectory is on the right path, McCrory said she’d like to see graduation rates and student achievement continue to improve. Strategies put in place by the district’s Indigenous team, such as hiring graduation advisors, have

really made a difference, she said. During McCrory’s three years on the board, the district closed one school, Giscome Elementary. A long-range facilities plan produced for the district in early 2025 also suggested that the elementary schools be merged with secondary schools in Valemount, Mackenzie and McBride and for Van Bien and Hixon elementary schools to be closed and their students moved to other schools in Prince George by 2033. “We did that in a consultative way with the community and with the support of the community,” McCrory said of the Giscome closure. “I have experienced school closures before and it’s not a great place to be or a great thing to be a part of. However, we also have to be realistic in the financial constraints that we have and we have to look at the best educational options for our students. Baseline, I don’t support school closures, but there are circumstances in which we have to do those.” McCrory said she was proud that the

board had looked at some interesting new courses during her tenure, like high school classes allowing students to get hands-on learning experiences with horses as well as another teaching them about aircraft and the aviation industry. Also point of pride she mentioned was collaboration with community partners and Indigenous education partners. If re-elected, she said she’d like to see the board continue to overhaul its policies, provide financial stability and security, support students, staff and teachers and foster wellness and safety across the district. Asked if she had any new initiatives she’d like to launch during a second term, McCrory said she would prefer to wait to see who gets elected to the board and figure out what they can work together on. “I’m a strong voice and I’m the right choice,” McCrory said. “The proof is in the work that I’ve done … I come prepared, I ask question, I will challenge initiatives if I don’t agree with them.” Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

McCrory seeking re-election to continue school board’s work

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

One of the incumbent trustees running for re-election as a trustee for School District 57 says she’s looking for a second term to continue work on graduation rates, students’ achievement and strategic planning. Shar McCrory joined the board of education in a 2023 byelection to replace two trustees who resigned shortly into the term that started the previous year. However, her experience as a trustee reaches back longer than that, having served for eight years on the board of School District 82 (Coast Mountains) as the representative for Hazelton. “We have a four-year term, but for instance, capital planning is ten years in advance, so we really have to work forward,” McCrory said. “What is student enrollment going to look like? What are we going to do with our aging buildings and how can we plan for that? How do we meet our financial

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Hermanson hoping to bring her perspective to SD57 MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A longtime social services worker in Prince George has has thrown her hat in the ring alongside 13 others running to be Prince George’s representatives on School District 57’s board of education. Samantha Hermanson has worked at organizations including the Association Advocating For Women And Community (AWAC), the Salvation Army food bank, various group homes and a local school. She’s also served on the City of Prince George’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion. In an interview with The Citizen, she said she believes her experience as a social worker and on advisory committees, as well as being a parent with children attending SD57 schools, will help bring new perspectives if elected this fall. “I bring something different. I’ve been a married parent, I’ve been a single parent, I’ve been a parent of a chronically ill child, I’m a parent of two LGBTQ students, very proud of that. I want to be able to speak for everybody, and I think I can bring that because not every group is gonna know the things that I know,” said Hermanson. One of the key pillars of her campaign is expanding food programs. “The first thing I think we need to do is reduce the stigma on it,” said Hermanson. “It’s not just families that are in poverty. I’ve got kids that are just poor at organizing in the morning and just forget their lunch. I’ve been a single working mom. I haven’t always been able to drop what I’m doing to bring them lunch. It is also a major help to kids who are living below the poverty line, the kids who access the food bank.” D.P. Todd Secondary School is also a focus. While she said it was an excellent school — both she and her kids attended classes there — she has seen issues with the building and is

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advocating for a rebuild. “It’s incredibly bleak sometimes for the kids, because the school’s mostly brick. So in the summertime, Hermanson it’s sweltering, and in the winter it’s freezing. The old asbestos tiles are still there, and I know what people say: as long as you don’t disturb it, it’s fine. But some of them are in the gym. When kids are throwing basketballs, you can see where it’s come off. I just think building again from the ground up is the better idea,” said Hermanson. Hermanson also said she supports Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) resources and policies in schools. “When I was told about SOGI, I was adamant that no, I don’t want my kids learning about this. I actually looked into it and I learned a lot about it,” said Hermanson. “The sad thing is that SOGI, a lot of people don’t quite understand exactly how it works. It isn’t a class the kids take. It’s just as simple sometimes as putting a sticker on your classroom door saying that everybody’s welcome. It’s not targeting your kids; it’s not teaching them anything. Those actually come along with the health class.” Accessibility is also a key issue for Hermanson, as she believes there are gaps needing to be closed. “There’s more education needed in the health of children and the accessibility around them being able to be healthy and at their best at all times,” she said. On declining enrolment in SD57, Hermanson said there are a variety of factors contributing to this issue that aren’t fully understood and that more research needs to be done to discover the heart of the problem before it can be fixed. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

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School board candidate says more accountability needed MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Don Sabo is hoping to bring more accountability, transparency and communication to School District 57 as he campaigns for a seat on the board of education. He previously served for six years as a board director for various Prince George organizations, including serving four years as the chair for the SD 57 district parent advisory council. He has also served as chair on numerous committees. Sabo said in a Wednesday, Sept. 16 interview that he believes the current board was plagued with controversies during its term, specifically citing the resignation of former trustees Betty Bekkering and Gillian Burnett, when former superintendent Cindy Heitman was ousted in a vote by trustees and the vote for a 28 per cent pay increase earlier this year as key issues.

“This should concern everyone. It started in controversy and it ended in controversy. The 28 per cent pay increase is indeed controversial and that’s Sabo how they ended their four-year term … I’m running on accountability and they are going to be accountable.” More than three decades of leadership and education experience were lost when these people were ousted, Sabo said. “When you push out 37 years of public education from the school district, they need to be held accountable by their employers and who are their employers? The voters,” said Sabo. “You can’t wait almost four full years for these individuals to be held accountable by the voting public. I

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think that the school board needs to be accountable on an ongoing basis, needs to be transparent on an ongoing basis, and needs to communicate on an ongoing basis. That’s why I’m running.” He said that he would work together as a team with his fellow trustees if elected but wants to see more transparency and evaluations for them during the next four years. “What I want with transparency is that we have, say, a performance evaluation on an annual basis for all trustees, including myself,” said Sabo. “This is an open and fair process and it should be reported out through the news to the public.” If elected, he said also wants to revisit the board’s remuneration decision. “If I was voted on to the school board, I’d be working with like-minded individuals, hopefully, to look at revisiting that motion, that increase of 28 per cent and revising it down to a reasonable and more responsible level of remuneration,” said Sabo.

Safety a priority for McNab MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Candidate in municipal election turns out to be surprisingly relatable after it is revealed that they too indeed have a family and have lived in the city for a quite a long time

Sabo said he wants to do more research into key issues during his term, namely declining enrolment in SD57 schools. He also said he’s is in favour of bringing more daycares into SD57 schools and that this could greatly assist in future education options for these students. During his interview, he also expressed support for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policies in SD57 and said that he has an issue with other school board candidates who are questioning them. “SOGI is just one component of an overall anti-bullying program. SOGI is a program that actually makes students who self-identify as LGBT in the school community feel safe, valued, and respected. I support that one hundred percent. These candidates who are questioning that have an issue with me,” said Sabo. Election Day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Barb McNab is hoping to make students and teachers feel safer if elected as a trustee for School District 57’s board of trustees. McNab is a longtime Prince George resident who has sat on church boards and has served as a part-time member of SD57’s parent advisory council, among others. She said a key focus for her, if elected, is to put a focus on school safety as she believes not enough is being done. “Those killings in 2016 in La Loche and the Tumbler Ridge shooting, plus all of the killings in the U.S., something is wacko in the school system when kids can come and kill teachers and kids,” said McNab. McNab pointed to a 2025 report by Student Success BC stating that 25 per cent of students in SD57 did not feel safe at school and another from

the BC Teachers Federation from that same year that said 15 per cent of teachers have experienced an assault by a student. “Imagine the McNab trauma that there is,” said McNab. “They knocked that school down in Tumbler Ridge. What about all the kids here that have heard about it or knew somebody there? We can’t knock down all the schools. Well, we have to do something about that. We can’t have kids going to school being afraid. Everybody’s worried about them being hungry. What about trauma?” She added that there needs to be more authority given to teachers and admits this may be a long process. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Monica Peacock wants more accessibility at SD57 schools MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Monica Peacock is hoping to improve support for students with complex needs if elected to School District 57’s board of education this fall. Peacock previously ran for a seat on the city council in 2014 and has served her community by working to organize events like the Festival of Trees and on various youth programs. Her husband worked in SD57 as a teacher and during that time, Peacock said she noticed that while some challenges remain the same, there are also new ones to tackle. One new challenge she said she wants to focus on if elected is support in SD57 schools for those with learning and physical disabilities. While she said she knows that these challenges have existed in the past, she told The Citizen that

these issues are becoming more noticeable in recent years. “The biggest difference that’s in this day and age and that I feel I have time Peacock to work with, is the diversification of the child in the school. Whether that’s fetal alcohol syndrome, whether that’s autism, whether that’s disabilities, physical, mental, there are more challenges noted today. Not saying they weren’t there then … There are more people becoming more and more attentive to their children’s needs or wants.” If elected, Peacock said she wants to work with parents to address accessibility gaps in schools and wants to see more supports for those with complex needs implemented. “The education system and the

‘Kids are distracted by the phone’ CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “Somebody has to put the hammer down,” said McNab. “I know that we have to go around and through all kinds of things to even get to speak to the superintendent, and then the superintendent is probably the one that does something. But something has to be done.” Another concern of McNab’s is cellphone usage, which she said is a major distraction and a source of widespread bullying. “Kids are distracted by the phone,” said McNab. “Even adults, you hear that ding, and it’s like, ‘oh my gosh.’ Kids are also afraid that other kids are gonna take compromising pictures and videos and put them on social media, and it only takes about 10 minutes before the whole school knows.” As of the 2024-25 school year, the province’s school districts have been mandated to adopt policies restricting cell phone use in schools though the implementation and exact wording are up to each district. McNab said

she wants them banned entirely from schools, not just classrooms. When asked about declining enrolment, she said that this issue is multifaceted as it drains SD57 coffers as well as the student population. “Every time a student leaves SD57, $9,015 leaves it as well,” said McNab. “If they’re going to an online student or homeschooling or private schools, that money is going to the private school. It’s not going into SD57 and therefore you don’t have enough money to do the things you want to do. So, how do we get those people to come back? She said she hopes to be a trustee who can help connect other members of the board and facilitate ideas. “If you’ve got seven people who all have great ideas, there’s got to be a way to bring people together,” said McNab. “People say I’m able to bridge people together. I believe I would know how to keep the room from killing each other.” Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

parents need to work together to come to terms with what is needed,” said Peacock. “I’ve had some challenged children in my life who are very successful when given the support, both to the teacher and to the student and to the school. I believe there’s a lot more that can be accomplished. I’m not saying it happens overnight, but if you don’t bring it to the table to discuss it, how can you change anything or make it better?” Peacock said she believes there is funding available out there to address possible gaps in accessibility but that the focus should be on building momentum by correcting small issues first. “There is money out there, but where do they go? How do you get them? And when they’re given, do they make a difference to that child, to that school, to that ESL (English as a second language) teacher or to that First Nations advocate or

support worker?” said Peacock. “The need can be massive, but if you can’t do all of it, there has to be a way to accomplish a success. A small one means that there’s a bridge to another one, then there’s a bridge to another one, but you have to get to the first success.” To get funding for these additions or for any other need in the school district, she said both incumbents and newly elected members need to fight for every dollar. “You have to have people willing to go out on a limb and fight for it. Our whole northern community has said that we are the northern capital. How do we take that experience of being in the north and challenge more? I don’t think we challenge enough when it comes to how we make things work; how do we get more funding? I think we, as a board, need to be more decisive.” Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

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Victim sues ex-Canada Post co-worker for compensation She’s pursuing $32,000 in lost wages and moving expenses BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A sexual assault victim is suing the ex-shop steward at a Canada Post depot in Prince George for almost $32,000 in lost wages and moving expenses. Aaron David Paul Brandly was sentenced in BC Supreme Court on March 31 to six months house arrest and three years probation after Justice Dev Dley found him guilty of touching a co-worker’s buttocks and breasts without her consent. The woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban, filed the lawsuit on May 5 in small claims court. “For my safety I had to relocate which I had endured loss of wages, moving expenses and the trauma that I deal with for the past four years and the last two years of dealing with this matter in court,” said the notice of claim. “He was convicted of

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

A shop steward at the Canada Post depot at 15th Avenue and Nicholson Street was found guilty of sexual assault earlier this year.

sexual assault, which happened in the workplace.” In her filing, the woman seeks $25,964.32 compensation for lost wages, $2,171.76 in moving expenses, including U-Haul, gas and storage; out-of-province inspection, insurance

and registration fees of $1,994.56; and loss of one month rent of $1,400. The grand total, after filing and service fees, is $31,706.59. The claim has not been tested in court, but Brandly provided a one-paragraph reply in his June 1

defence filing. “The losses claimed are alleged to have resulted from safety concerns,” said the Brandly reply. “Statements made on the record at the Supreme Criminal trial … both by the claimant and the Honourable Justice, appear to contradict and dismiss these alleged safety issues.” In a court hearing in Williams Lake on Monday, Sept. 14, Justice Marguerite Church approved an exception to Brandly’s conditional sentencing order and probation that would allow him to contact and communicate with lawyers for the woman for the sole purpose of the small claim. The exception extends to court hearings, if a sheriff is present. During last year’s trial, Brandly pleaded not guilty to incidents between 2017 and 2024, but admitted to horseplay and bawdy language that he said he traded with two female co-workers. Dley said Brandly’s behaviour caused the woman, who is now suing, “considerable trauma and upheaval, including moving away, losing income and suffering physically and emotionally.”

Sentencing for CrossRoads arson delayed to November

Richard Alex Gordon Titchener pleaded guilty to lighting the Sept. 5, 2025 fire BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sentencing of the CrossRoads Brewing and Distillery arsonist may finally happen before mid-November in BC Supreme Court. Richard Alex Gordon Titchener pleaded guilty on Jan. 12 to lighting the Sept. 5, 2025 fire that destroyed the downtown Prince George establishment. Titchener remains in custody at

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

CrossRoads Brewing and Distillery was destroyed by fire in September 2025.

the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre and was transported to Prince George for a Monday, Aug. 31 hearing, pending courtroom and judge availability. His lawyer, Georges Rivard, told the court that

he was recovering from an undisclosed illness and asked to appear remotely when the matter was postponed to Sept. 4. But, on that day, he successfully sought an adjournment to another date so that he could appear in-person. On Monday, Sept. 14, however, Justice Ronald Tindale agreed for Rivard and Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall to hold another scheduling hearing on Monday, Sept. 21. Rivard told Tindale that the court scheduling department said there are dates available in November and he can appear on Nov. 10, 12 or 13. Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall was unable to confirm his schedule due to his malfunctioning computer.

“However, if I recall, I’m commencing a jury trial the following week, so I will need to move a few things around and unfortunately, I can’t pull up my full schedule at the moment,” Withall told Tindale. “What I would like to do is make a November date work, because I know once we get into December, it’s going to be challenging, and this was originally set in September for sentencing.” In January, the court heard that video evidence led to Titchener’s guilty plea. Specifically, the nearby Keg Restaurant’s surveillance camera in the back alley captured images of Titchener igniting cardboard and causing the blaze. Maximum jail time for arson is 14 years.

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NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

CRIME NOTES Time served for uttering threats A Provincial Court judge sentenced a man on Wednesday, Sept. 16 to 30 days time served and one year probation for uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. Mark Terrance McKenzie spent 20 days in custody after arrest for the March 26 incident and was credited with 10 more days under the timeand-a-half rule. Judge Charles Hutchinson also banned McKenzie, born in 1982, from being within 25 metres of where the threat victim is and he must also not be within 25 metres of the RBC bank on Victoria Street in Prince George. McKenzie is also banned from possessing weapons. Hutchinson ordered McKenzie to attend a counselling program as directed by his probation officer, attend scheduled appointments with Forensic Psychiatric Services and take all medication prescribed.

Man pleads guilty to child pornography

A man who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Sept. 16 to the charge of possessing child pornography is scheduled to be back in Prince George Provincial Court in three months. Before Judge Charles Hutchinson, 1998-born William Gordon Shannon agreed he committed the crime. The charge stems from an April 1, 2023 incident in Prince George. Shannon was also charged with accessing child pornography on that date and both possessing and accessing on June 5, 2025. Hutchinson granted Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall’s request for a pre-sentence report by a probation officer for the Wednesday, Dec. 16 return date.

Probation for man earlier acquitted of assault

A man who pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and possessing other people’s identity documents was sentenced Monday, Sept. 14 to time served and 12 months of

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Legal proceedings in Prince George are carried out at the downtown courthouse.

probation. On March 22, 2024, Farbn Marvin Japow was arrested after a man was beaten outside the Knights Inn in downtown Prince George. The RCMP officer that searched Japow’s jacket found credit and debit cards, a passport, WorkSafeBC identification and a firearm licence — none of which belonged to Japow. Japow pleaded guilty in Provincial Court before he was tried and found not guilty of assaulting a man with an axe. Judge Charles Hutchinson acquitted Japow on Aug. 12 of charges of aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Hutchinson cited insufficient testimony of three civilian witnesses and a lack of physical evidence that connected Japow to the altercation. The Crown previously stayed a charge of stolen credit card possession. Japow is scheduled to be tried beginning Monday, Nov. 12 over an Aug. 4, 2024 incident in Quesnel. He is charged with dangerous driving, fleeing from police, driving while disqualified, wilfully obstructing or resisting a peace officer and breaching probation. In March 2023, a year before the Knights Inn incident, Japow pleaded guilty in Prince George to dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault

with a weapon and assault. Japow was at the wheel in an October 2022 high-speed rollover crash outside Prince George that seriously injured his girlfriend.

He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, but credited for seven months and 10 days spent in custody. He was also banned from driving for two years.

TOYS • COMICS • GAMES

NOW AT GREAT WHITE Spruceland Shopping Centre

NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Community invited to Truth and Reconciliation Day CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

The Thundering Eagles lead a group of elders, residential school survivors and guests to the stage as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Day event at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Day will be celebrated at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park on Wednesday, Sept. 30. During this monumental event the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation invites the whole community to gather to honour Residential School Survivors, Sixties Scoop Survivors, their families, and communities. The day will include a Guided Reconciliation Walk led by Joshua Seymour, Reading of the 94 Calls to Action led by the Prince George Urban Indigenous

As a North American energy company, Enbridge believes that our business can play a critical role in advancing reconciliation, and that means acknowledging the truth and learning from the past. As we learn more, we strive to create a path that we can walk, together, towards reconciliation. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we encourage all to take time to listen and learn about the history and culture of Indigenous peoples.

Coalition, cultural ceremony offering a time to drum in survivors, offer a moment of reflection, hear the voices of survivors, and youth and celebrate through song and dance. “The day will start at noon where you will have a choice of either doing a Guided Reconciliation Walk led by Joshua Seymour or you can go and watch the Reading of the 94 Calls to Action,” Jen Rubadeau, communications manager for the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, said. “Both of these events are very impactful. Unfortunately, we lost Barry Seymour, who was an incredible knowledge holder, and so he did

the Reconciliation Walk last year and so Joshua Seymour, will continue that legacy as also someone who has an incredible wealth of knowledge.” Joshua will take people through the traditional burial site of the Lheidli T’enneh people and offer a bit of understanding of some of the history, share stories and talk about connection to the land, Rubadeau added. “This is an opportunity to learn and reflect on the hardships our local Indigenous First Nations faced and in a lot of ways, continue to face,” Rubadeau said. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

What can you do?

Wear your orange shirt on September 30

Learn more by finding new Indigenous social media content creators or podcasts

Support Indigenous artists; listen to Indigenous musicians

Participate in local cultural events in your community

Discuss with your family what truth and reconciliation means and identify ways to take action

NEWS

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Events happen Sept. 30 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “For a lot of people the 94 Calls to Action can be a bit of an intimidating document so this will allow people to interact with it in a way that is a bit more accessible. There will be 94 different people reading each one of the Calls to Action. It’s a really powerful way to interact with it. The goals of the 94 Calls to Action is looking at ways that we as citizens and governments can be better and do better — so a great opportunity to be part of that.” The Celebration of Culture will begin at 2 p.m. “At that time we will

drum in survivors, we will have a momentum of reflection and then we will do something really unique and instead of having a bunch of speeches we are hoping for a panel type of forum instead,” Rubadeau said. “We are still developing the questions but it will be themed ’the past and the future.’” The panel will include residential school survivors, children of survivors and people who were part of the Sixties Scoop and the Millennial Scoop.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

National Day National National Day Day o oo t t t onon iliation oniliation iliation SEPTEMBER

12pm 12pm || Guided Guided Reconciliation Reconciliation Walk Walk led led by Joshua Seymour ledby byJoshua JoshuaSeymour Seymour

12pm 12pm || Reading Reading of of the the 94 94 Calls Calls to to Action Action led led by the Prince George Urban Indigenous Coalition ledby bythe thePrince PrinceGeorge GeorgeUrban UrbanIndigenous IndigenousCoalition Coalition

2pm 2pm || Ceremony Ceremony && Celebration Celebration of of Culture Culture

Drum Hear Drum in Survivors Moment of Reflection HHear ear the voices of Survivors, Sixties Drumin inSurvivors Survivors ||| Moment Momentof ofReflection Reflection |||H earthe thevoices voicesof ofSurvivors, Survivors,Sixties Sixties Scoop Survivors & Youth | Celebrate the future through dance & song Scoop Survivors & Youth | Celebrate the future through dance & song Scoop Survivors & Youth | Celebrate the future through dance & song

SEPTEMBER 29

RECONCILIATION IS MORE THAN A DAY

1pm | Group Photo with Mr PG wearing his orange shirt!

We acknowledge the truth of residential schools and honour the Survivors, families, and communities who continue to carry their impacts today.

led by the Prince George Urban Indigenous Coalition

At Four Rivers Co-op, we believe reconciliation requires more than words. It requires listening, learning, accountability, and meaningful action.

We recognize that reconciliation is an ongoing journey, and we remain committed to building respectful relationships, fostering understanding, and taking meaningful action alongside Indigenous Nations and communities. We are grateful for the trust, knowledge, partnership, and teachings shared with us, and we thank those who continue to guide the path forward.

“Every Child Matters” ʼAnáɫzax̄ʷ • Hamiyaa 'nii'y loosi'm • Mes'iy • Nenachailya • Sechanalʔin gulin • Sne kal yëgh • Sṓgá sénláʼ • T'ooyaḵs• T'oyaxsut nüüsm • Kukstsémc • mēduh • Mussi cho • Kinanâskomitin • Merci • Thank You Four Rivers Co-op

2 2

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Throughout the year, we work to advance reconciliation through our relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities and through our commitment to Indigenous-led initiatives. Through our Indigenous Community Impact initiative, we invest in cultural and community events, Indigenous youth programs, community wellness initiatives, and partnerships that strengthen communities throughout our trading area. This includes support for the Rose Prince Pilgrimage and the Lejac Residential School Reunion.

www.lheidli.ca www.lheidli.ca www.lheidli.ca

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

NEWS

P PR R II N NC CE E G GE EO OR RG GE E C C II T T II Z ZE EN N

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

‘The past and the future’ CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

National Truth and Reconciliation Day will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park beginning at noon. This is a photo of the event from 2024.

“This year we will hear different people’s answers to the same question, which will be really impactful,” Rubadeau said. “Hearing a variety of voices with different lived experiences will allow us to have a better understanding of everyone and that will provide a more engaging way for people to learn and share their stories.” Next is the Celebration of Culture and Resiliency. “Indigenous people are incredibly resilient considering all of the things they have faced and really being able

to rise up and showcase and shine so this is a way for us to also turn the light towards the positive,” Rubadeau said. “Being able to come together and learn and share and also celebrate that resilience is a really beautiful thing for us to do as a large-scale community and everyone is welcome to come and be part of this impactful event. Let us come together to listen, learn, reflect, and walk forward in the spirit of truth, healing, respect, and reconciliation.” If there are any Residential School Survivors or Elders who wish to be part of the 94 Calls to Action reading call 250-561-1199 or email jamesl@ pgnaeta.bc.ca

EVERY CHILD MATTERS Listen Learn Reflect Make Connections Take Action !"#$%&'()#')*#'+),,*%$-.

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BUSINESS

Trucking company to lose 90 per cent of workers due to Northwood shutdown Excel Transportation worked almost exclusively for the pulp mill CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

A local trucking company says it expects to lose 90 per cent of its workforce due to the impending closure of Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill later this year. Excel Transportation has worked almost exclusively for Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill for the last five years. In a Wednesday, Sept. 16 media release, the company said that the impending closure has reduced the volume of wood moving throughout the region and there is no longer a sufficient supply to keep three trucking hauling contracts going. On top of that, Canfor decided to award the reduced contract for what’s left to another company. “This is one of the most difficult announcements we’ve had to make in our company’s history,” CEO Annie Horning said in the release. “The decision is a direct result of the downturn in Northern BC’s forestry sector, not a reflection of our team’s performance or safety record. We are already pivoting to chart the next chapter for this company.” The Northwood Pulp Mill closure announced earlier this year by Canfor will affect about 300 direct jobs on top of impacting companies that worked with or supplied the facility. Excel Transportation, a third-generation, family-owned transport company led by the Andersen family, has served Prince George and Northern British Columbia since 1985.

EXCEL TRANSPORTATION PHOTO

Excel Transportation will lose 90 per cent of its workers due to Northwood’s shutdown.

“To every driver, mechanic, and member of our team — thank you,” said Excel vice-president Carter Andersen. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for this company and for our customers over the years. We built this business on trust, hard work and a genuine commitment to doing things right and none of that has changed. We are deeply disappointed by this decision and what it means for our people and our community. However, we could not be more proud of the team we’ve built.” Excel is not declaring a permanent shutdown, the press release added. The company will spend the coming months adjusting their fleet and workforce, while pursuing new contract opportunities across Northern BC’s forestry, industry and resource sectors, the press release said. “We’re not going anywhere,” Horning said. “We’ll take the time we need to right-size the business, support our people through the transition and come out the other side, ready for what’s next.”

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION NOTICE OF ELECTION BY VOTING NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING Notice is given that voting will be held to elect one (1) Mayor and eight (8) Councillors for the City of Prince George as well as five (5) school trustees for School District 57 Board of Trustees. The following individuals have been nominated as candidates: MAYOR - ONE (1) TO BE ELECTED Usual Name CARANTO, Ernesto

Location of Residence*

CARRIER, Marc DANCHUK, Randy FRIZZELL, Garth MURPHY, Keenan OLSON, Zachariah SAMPSON, Kyle STEWART, Roy YU, Simon

Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

Prince George, BC

COUNCILLOR - EIGHT (8) TO BE ELECTED Usual Name BENNETT, Tim BORTOLON, Shawn FRASER, Nicole JANJUA, Jesi KLASSEN, Trudy KRAUSE, Tucker LAARZ, Trenten MCLAREN, Dan OKECHUKWU, Anthony PARMAR, Rajendar PEARS, Dan POLILLO, Ron RADLOFF, Bob RAMSAY, Cori SKAKUN, Brian STEIDLE, James WAYNE, Bruce ZUKOWSKI, John

Location of Residence* Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes) Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes) Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes) Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

SCHOOL TRUSTEE - FIVE (5) TO BE ELECTED Usual Name ANTRIM, Cory BRENNAN, Craig DILLMAN, Laurie HERMANSON, Samantha HOLLAND, Sarah LOW, David MCCRORY, Shar MCLEAN, Erica MCNAB, Barb MITCHELL, Lisa PATTERSON, Sara

Location of Residence* Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Electoral Area C (Chilako River – Nechako) Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

110 Patricia Blvd., | p.250.561.7600 (311) | www.princegeorge.ca

SCHOOL TRUSTEE - FIVE (5) TO BE ELECTED cont. Usual Name PEACOCK, Monica SABO, Don SKAKUN, Jake

Location of Residence* Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

*Location of Residence represents the municipality, electoral area, or treaty lands in which the candidate is a resident per section 99(2)(b) of the Local Government Act. Voting hours for all general and advance voting opportunities are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

GENERAL VOTING DAY - Saturday, October 17, 2026

• Blackburn Elementary School 2222 Blackburn Road South, Prince George, BC • College Heights Secondary School 6180 Domano Boulevard, Prince George, BC • DP Todd Secondary School 4444 Hill Avenue, Prince George, BC • Edgewood Elementary School 4440 Craig Road, Prince George, BC • John McInnis Centre 3400 Westwood Drive, Prince George, BC • Prince George Conference and Civic Centre 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC • Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School 7405 Kelly Road, Prince George, BC • Vanway Elementary School 4509 Highway 16 West, Prince George, BC

ADVANCE VOTING Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Thursday, October 8, 2026 Tuesday, October 14, 2026

Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC,

Wednesday, October 15, 2026

MAIL BALLOT VOTING

Mail ballot voting is available to eligible residents and non-resident property electors. Request forms to vote by mail must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Completed mail ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer before 8:00 p.m. on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 17, 2026). Mail Ballot request forms and detailed instructions are available at: www.princegeorge.ca/election.

ELECTOR REGISTRATION

All eligible electors may vote either by mail ballot, at an advance voting opportunity, or on general voting day. Elector registration will take place at the time of voting. To vote, you must meet the qualifications of a resident elector or non-resident property elector under the Local Government Act and provide the required identification. Resident Electors To register, you must: • Be a Canadian Citizen; and • Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and • Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months prior to the day of registration; and • Be a resident of the City of Prince George on the day of registration; and • Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law. Non-Resident Property Electors To register, you must: • Be a Canadian Citizen; and • Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and • Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six (6) months prior to the day of registration; and • Have been a registered owner of real property in the City of Prince George for at least thirty (30) days immediately before the day of registration; and • Not be entitled to register as a resident elector; and • Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.

REGIONAL

P PR R II N NC CE E G GE EO OR RG GE E C C II T T II Z ZE EN N

2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION NOTICE OF ELECTION BY VOTING NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING If there is more than one registered owner of the property, a written consent form signed by a majority of owners must be provided. Only one non-resident property elector may vote per property. All registered owners of the property must be individuals. Identification Requirements All electors must produce two (2) pieces of identification, at least one of which must contain a signature, to prove identity and place of residence (and property ownership, in the case of a non-resident property elector). Examples include: • BC Driver’s Licence** • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship • BC Identification Card** • Current Utility Bill – Containing Elector’s Name and Address • BC CareCard** • ICBC Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License • Credit Card OR Debit Card • Social Insurance Number Card • Property Tax Notice • Citizenship card issued by a first nation • Canadian Passport • Any other document accepted by the Chief Election Officer • Metis Nation BC Citizenship Card **Driver’s Licence or BC Identification Card with a BC CareCard on the reverse counts as one piece of identification.

QUESTIONS?

City of Prince George Election Headquarters: election@princegeorge.ca | 250.561.7600 or 311 5th Floor, City Hall Visit www.princegeorge.ca/election School District 57 Election Headquarters: election@sd57.bc.ca | 250.561.6800 ext 321 2100 Ferry Avenue Visit www.sd57.bc.ca/elections

110 Patricia Blvd., | p.250.561.7600 (311) www.princegeorge.ca

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

TELUS says fibre connections weeks away for McBride and Dunster The communities are waiting for word on high-speed internet KEVIN GIBSON

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

TELUS provided an update on its rural network expansion during the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s Aug. 20 board meeting. Brandon Jennings, TELUS manager of customer service delivery, and Jared Anderson, TELUS’s local government relations lead for British Columbia, presented to the RDFFG board. Jennings said McBride and Dunster are the company’s closest projects to completion in the regional district. “We’re hoping in the next couple of weeks to be live and have customers ready to go,” Jennings said. In the Fraser-Fort George region, TELUS has partnered with Ledcor to build the fibre network infrastructure. Ledcor is a major North American construction company whose technical services division designs, builds and maintains fibre-optic and other telecommunications networks. Jennings said residents have likely seen the work being completed around the village. “For those living in McBride right now, you’ve probably seen the crews driving around — and they’re hanging lines,” he said. The agreement between TELUS and Ledcor helps extend high-speed internet into rural communities where the number of potential customers would not ordinarily make a commercial fibre project financially viable. Anderson thanked the regional district and Village of McBride for providing letters of support in November 2022, which he said helped make the government funding possible. Jennings said construction will not create a direct cost for the communities or individual property owners. “The entire build is actually covered by us and the government subsidy,” he said. “We come in, we provide all the lines, do all the construction and lay the plan with no cost to either community or the constituents.” Residents would still have to subscribe and pay for their chosen internet package once service becomes available. TELUS said its fibre network can provide symmetrical speeds of up to three gigabits per second, meaning information can be uploaded at the same speed it

is downloaded. Jennings said those speeds could improve access to remote employment, online education and virtual health care. “Without proper internet speeds, you can’t do that,” he said. “With fibre, that opens a door to economic growth in those communities.” Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson, who represents the village on the regional board, said government support is essential because rural fibre construction can cost tens of thousands of dollars for each property connected. “Typically in these build-outs, they’re $20,000 to $25,000 per home until you densify it down to about $15,000 per home,” Torgerson said. “And the UBF fund — say, in the Yukon — you’re looking at $50,000 to $55,000 per home. So that’s how integral the UBF fund is to rural Canada.” “It’s absolutely outstanding that the memorandum of understanding between the province and the federal government has come to a point now where we’re seeing exactly what they said: remote workers, telehealth, education — all those wonderful things that fibre will bring to a rural area. It’s outstanding.” Torgerson also asked whether the publicly subsidized network would be open to competing internet service providers. TELUS representatives could not answer during the meeting and said they would investigate the open-access requirements and respond to him later. Universal Broadband Fund rules require open access at points of presence within funded networks, but that does not necessarily provide competitors with access to the fibre connection entering each home. By comparison, CityWest has said the separate network it is developing in Valemount will operate on an open-access basis, allowing other internet service providers to use the infrastructure. TELUS did not provide the residential subscription prices that will be offered in McBride and Dunster. Representatives said they could not discuss other possible projects that have not yet been announced by government funding partners. Some preliminary fieldwork may be undertaken for projects beginning in 2027. Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson said an Aug. 18 meeting with CityWest provided reassurance about the project’s schedule. “I was pleased to hear they are confident they will have the fibre internet access buildout completed by the March 31, 2027, deadline,” Torgerson said.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

COMMUNITY

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What’s happening in PG Soles Remembering Souls Memorial Walk goes Thursday, Sept. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month the seventh annual event will honour loved ones lost to suicide and supporting survivors of suicide loss. We choose to remember people for who they were in life first and how they died second. At the event there will be a candle and placard for each registered person who has died by suicide, which includes a picture and five things their loved ones would like them to be remembered by. This event will include live music, a silent auction, artwork, and a short walk to reflect on loved ones lost. Any donations will support crisis prevention services, including 24-hour phone lines, youth chat and text, and community education. If you have a loved one lost to suicide and would like to have them memorialized at the event register at https://crisis-centre.ca/ events/. Love Starts Today Junk Journal Night goes Friday, Sept. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Spruce Capital Seniors, 3701 Rainbow Drive. The theme is a Tea Party. If you dress up or have something to show off you get a free ticket for the draw. There will be magazines, ink and stamps, paper punches, and pens, pencils, markers and adhesives available on tables for everyone to use. We now have premade, unique, themed bags for simple easy use. Adults are $25. Cost for children ages six to 18 is their age plus $2, so if they are 10 it will be $12. Children five and under are free to enjoy the evening with a parent or guardian. Price includes a Junk Journal Page and a choice of premade themed bag to help you create. Reserve a spot by emailing lovestartstoday@gmail.com Live Pro Wrestling presented by Primetime Entertainment goes Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept, 26 with doors at 5:45, general bell

THE HIP EXPERIENCE/FACEBOOK PHOTO

The Hip Experience, a tribute to one of the country’s most iconic rock bands, The Tragically Hip, happens Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. at CN Centre.

at 7 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre and there are two different shows. For more information and tickets visit www.ticketseller.ca/ tickets/event/live-pro-wrestlingPG Prince George Italian Club Fall Pasta Dinner goes Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Prince George Italian Club, 1209 Fifth Avenue. The dinner features pasta and piselli (peas) with bechamel sauce, seasonal salad, garlic bread and layered lemon dessert. Tickets for members are $20, non-members $30, children 10 and under are $10. For tickets email pgitalianclub1@gmail.com The Hip Experience goes Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. at CN Centre. This tribute band features frontman Derek Lathrop and the tour is called Ahead by a Century: The Hip Experience. This massive cross-country tour commemorates a decade since The Tragically Hip’s historic and emotional final concert, dedicated to preserving the legacy and “northern gothic” spirit of Canada’s most iconic rock band. Delivering a soulful, high-energy, note-for-note

celebration of the music that defined a nation. For more information and tickets visit www.cncentre. ca/events-tickets/events-calendar/ ahead-century/thehipexperience Drive Thru Fall Community Shred It Event goes Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the PGSS parking lot and is presented by the Northern BC Crime Stoppers as a fundraising event. This is an opportunity to shred personal or important documents, preventing identity theft. Donation is a minimum $10 per bag or box and is not meant for business owners. For another $5 donation enjoy a tasty Mr. Mike’s burger from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. National Tree Day 2026 Celebration goes Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Moore’s Meadow Park, 4750 First Avenue. Bring family, friends and pets to enjoy the fall colours and create your own meadow art. Easels for children and art supplies are provided. We take photos of your art before you take it home. Prizes for the most remarkable art.

41st annual Business Excellence Awards goes Saturday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, 808 Canada Games Way. There will be 12 awards presented to outstanding businesses in recognition of their work, including customer service, entertainment and attractions, environmental impact, food and beverage, not for profit and community service and lifetime achievement. For more information and for tickets visit https:// www.pgchamber.bc.ca/39th-business-excellence-awards Spur Crazy at the Saturday Night Dance goes Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St. Dance to country and western, east coast swing, polkas and waltzes. Line dance during band breaks. There will be good music and good fun. It’s a great night for dancing or just come and listen to the music. $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Everyone 19+ is welcome to attend. Cash bar, door prizes and a 50/50 draw. First Annual Duck Derby – Racing for Conservation goes Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at Cottonwood Island Park. All purchased ducks will be released into the Nechako River at the mouth of the newly restored Cottonwood Island Side Channel. The ducks will race downstream through the side channel toward the finish line, where a specially designed collection system will funnel them into the Winners Tube. The first three ducks into the Winners Tube will win. First place is $20,000, second place is $10,000 and third place is $5,000. But one lucky duck will be secretly selected before the race and if that duck comes in first the ticket holder will win an additional $50,000. For more information and to purchase tickets for $25 each visit https://scwa.bc.ca/2026-duck-derby/ CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Broadway and Booze goes Saturday, Oct. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave., and is presented by Nove Voce Choral Society, who are partnering again with the fabulous Tofino Distillery for a night of tasting and great Broadway tunes. Tofino Craft Distilleries will be the featured liquor with six of their award winning spirits, including Espresso Vodka and Rose Hibiscus Gin. Nove Voce will offer entertainment between rounds with great broadway tunes from new and classic shows. This is a 19+ only event. The ticket price includes six half-ounce liquor samples with mix provided. No liquor will be sold separately. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ broadway-and-booze-tickets Primetime Goes Big Time at the CN Centre and goes Friday, October 16 at 6 p.m. Professional wrestling returns to the CN Centre. Wrestling fans of all ages and eras will take in the excitement and energy all night long with what’s sure to be an action-packed match card. Choose a seat on the floor and get closest to the action or choose a general admission seat and sit where you want in the stands. Wrestlers will be on hand selling their merchandise and meeting fans during the show. For more information and tickets visit www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ primetime-goes-big-time DP Todd Craft Fair goes Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DP Todd Secondary School, 4444 Hill Avenue. There are more than 100 vendors featuring their homemade local goods for sale. Get started on holiday shopping early. 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/

MIKE NORRIS/PEXELS PHOTO

Rubber ducks will ‘race’ down the Nechako River for the Racing for Conservation event on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Cottonwood Island Park. First place is $20,000, with other cash prizes for top winners.

vocals; Brad Martin, drums/vocals; and Tim Yule, guitar/vocals.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. 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. CCS 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-and-accommodation-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. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. There’s something for everyone. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066. 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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION

Notice of election by voting Public notice is hereby given to the electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Bear Lake Local Community that an election by voting will be held on Saturday October 17, 2026 to elect one Director for Electoral Area A, D, F, G and H, and four Commissioners for Bear Lake Local Community Commission. The following persons are the candidates for each office:

Director, Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes)

Director, Electoral Area (Crooked River-Parsnip)

• One to be elected

Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

AUSTMAN MOBLEY

Greg Victor

Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

KIRK SZUCSKO

Jerrilyn David

Prince George, BC Mackenzie, BC

Director, Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek)

Director, Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe)

• One to be elected

Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

BROUGHTON BUKSA SCHINKEL SCHULTZ SLUMP VERKAIK

Scott Book Ken Darrel Perry Robert

Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

ALAN KOLIDA

Dannielle Joe

McBride, BC McBride, BC

Director, Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley) • One to be elected Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

BOSIAK BRANDNER OLSON JAMIESON ROSITANO

Kathleen Caroline Gary Joe

Prince George, BC Willow River, BC (Electoral Area F) Prince George, BC Giscome, BC (Electoral Area F)

Commissioner, Bear Lake Local Community • Four to be elected Surname

Usual name

Residential municipality/electoral area

FRANKLIN GIESBRECHT HEBERT KENDALL MCCUTCHEON

Herb Barbara Jennifer Thomas Ella

Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G)

General voting day and voting locations

General voting day will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Bear Lake Local Community on Saturday October 17, 2026 between 8 am and 8 pm at the following locations:

Electoral Area A

Electoral Area G

• Ness Lake Community Hall, 9770 Lakeside Drive, Ness Lake • Nukko Lake Elementary School, 23955 Chief Lake Road, Nukko Lake • Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School, 7405 Kelly Road , Prince George

• Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake • Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie

Electoral Area D

• Valemount Community Hall, 101 Gorse Street, Valemount • Robson Valley Community Centre, 441 Columbia Street, McBride

• Pineview Elementary School, 8515 Old Cariboo Highway, Prince George • Blackburn Elementary School, 2222 South Blackburn Road, Prince George • Buckhorn Elementary School, 5190 Buckhorn Lake Road, Prince George

Electoral Area F • Sinclair Mills Community Hall, 37832 Upper Fraser Road, Prince George • Ferndale Community Hall, 3595 Upper Fraser Rd, Prince George • Willow River Community Hall, 55 Willow Street, Willow River

Electoral Area H Bear Lake Local Community • Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Additional general voting opportunities

Additional voting opportunities on general voting day will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George on Saturday October 17, 2026 between 2 pm and 6 pm at the following location:

Electoral Area H • Dunster Community Hall, 7085 Read Road, Dunster

Advance voting opportunities

Advance voting opportunities will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Bear Lake Local Community on Wednesday October 7, 2026 between 8 am and 8 pm at the following locations:

Electoral Area A, D and F • Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, 155 George Street, Prince George

Electoral Area G • Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake • Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie

Electoral Area H • Robson Valley Community Centre, 441 Columbia Street, McBride • Valemount Community Hall, 101 Gorse Street, Valemount

Bear Lake Local Community • Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake

Elector registration

There is no need to pre-register to vote as registration of all electors for these elections will take place at the time of voting. You will be required to make a declaration that you meet the requirements to be registered as set out below:

Resident electors To register as a resident elector you must: • be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026) • be a Canadian citizen • be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration • be a resident of the electoral area on the day of registration • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

Non-resident property electors To register as a non-resident property elector you must: • be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026) • be a Canadian citizen • be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting) • be a registered owner of real property in the electoral area for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting) • not be entitled to register as a resident elector • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

In addition, for non-resident property electors: • the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust • if more than one person is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector • consent forms are available at rdffg.ca/Election, at voting locations or by contacting the Chief Election Officer at 250-960-4400 or election@rdffg.bc.ca Resident electors at the time of registration will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity. Non-resident property electors at the time of registration will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners. A list of acceptable identification is at rdffg.ca/Election.

Mail ballot voting

Mail ballot voting is available to eligible resident and non-resident property electors. Mail ballot application forms are available online at rdffg.ca/Election, in person at the Regional District office at 155 George Street, Prince George, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, or by contacting the Chief Election Officer at 250-960-4400 or election@rdffg.bc.ca. Applications to vote by mail must be received by Thursday October 15, 2026 at 4:30 pm.

Maureen Connelly, Chief Election Officer | rdffg.ca/Election | 250-960-4400

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

COMMUNITY

P PR R II N NC CE E G GE EO OR RG GE E C C II T T II Z ZE EN N

Cops for Cancer Tour de North ride raises $164,000 COLIN SLARK

Citizen Staff

The 2026 instalment of Cops for Cancer Tour de North raised almost $164,000 over seven days, the RCMP said in a Friday, Sept. 18 media release. The annual fundraiser sees police officers and other volunteers embark on a week-long bicycle trip to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and connected endeavours, like the Camp

Goodtimes children’s camp. This year, riders started in Fort St. John on Friday, Sept. 11 and ended in Williams Lake on Thursday, Sept. 17. Riders were escorted into downtown Prince George by an armoured vehicle to attend a block party on Tuesday, Sept. 15. This year’s dollar figure came in at $163,978. Cops for Cancer director Samantha Falconer said the result is a testament

to what can happen when communities unite under a common purpose. “We’ve made meaningful progress against childhood cancer, but there is still much to be done,” Falconer said. “Together, we’re challenging the status quo for children affected by cancer and ensuring that families receive support at every stage of their cancer experience.” “Childhood cancer continues to have a significant and lasting impact on

children and families across Canada. An estimated 1,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and the impact can last a lifetime. As the largest national charitable funder, CCS has invested more than $11 million in childhood cancer research over the last 5 years. This investment is contributing to improved outcomes as the five-year survival rate for childhood cancer is now 86 per cent, an increase from 77 per cent in the early 1990s.

The future of forestry: CNC and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation host industry-focused tech boot camp

Drones, LiDAR, and more were demonstrated MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation are continuing to build on their partnership after hosting a boot camp focused on emerging technologies used in the forestry industry. CNC’s Natural Resources and Forest Technology team completed the first portion of its remote sensing boot camp for members of the Lheidli T’enneh forestry department. The training included introductory and operations training in drones, LiDAR, geographic information systems (GIS), satellite and multispectral technology, GPS data collection and forest inventory. CNC, in a media release, said the boot camp grew out of a LiDAR workshop held on campus earlier this year. Following the workshop, the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation forestry team spoke with CNC about an opportunity to explore LiDAR and other forestry technologies in more depth. “This is a great example of how we

CNC PHOTO

CNC and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation forestry department members hosted a bootcamp to learn hands-on skills for emerging forestry technologies.

can respond directly to the needs of our community partners and share the expertise and technology we have at CNC,” said Pablo Crespell, a consulting applied researcher at FTI. “These tools are increasingly important in forestry and natural resource management, and hands-on training gives participants an opportunity to see how they can be applied to real-world work.” Crespell, along with Natural Resources and Forest Technology

instructor Greg Rose, led the training, which combined theory with practical data collection and mission planning. Participants explored equipment regulatory requirements, sensor calibration, drone operations and data acquisition, along with methods for collecting and managing remote sensing information. The hands-on training included gathering data at Cottonwood Island Nature Park. A second

session is now planned to focus on analyzing the collected information, including forest inventory, project reconstruction and data management. “The LiDAR training has provided our forestry and emergency management departments with valuable skills and a better understanding of how LiDAR imagery can be used to support forestry planning and management,” said Sadia Zannat, emergency management officer and data portal administrator and analyst for Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. “The ability to work with detailed LiDAR data will help us better understand forest structure, terrain and landscape conditions, while also improving our ability to analyze and visualize our lands.” CNC noted that the training will open the door to future training opportunities, as well as joint projects and support around acquiring and using remote sensing equipment. The college also said it is exploring the development of a micro-credential related to drone operations. It hopes the credential could provide another opportunity for collaboration. “Forestry is changing as technology gives us new ways to understand and manage the land,” said Rose.

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COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Stay at home longer with the help of technology AgeTech Discovery Day happens on National Seniors Day, Thursday, Oct. 1. CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

With Prince George’s aging population growing steadily, staying at home for as long as possible remains a priority for many older adults. An upcoming event will give seniors an opportunity to explore some of the latest technologies designed to help make that possible on National Seniors Day, Thursday, Oct. 1. AGE-WELL AgeTech Discovery Day will be held at the Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include an introduction to AGE-WELL, information about technologies that support aging in place, presentations by local researchers, hands-on demonstrations of AgeTech innovations and an interactive workshop on how to get involved in research. Dr. Shannon Freeman, Canada Research Chair in Technology Adoption for Aging in the North, a professor in the School of Nursing at UNBC and founding academic director of the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN), will host the event. It is one of nine in-person events being held across the country. UNBC is a partner in the initiative through CTAAN, an AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub based at UNBC since Nov. 25, 2020. CTAAN works with community organizations, health systems and industry leaders to help older adults and their caregivers access and implement technology that supports independent living. It also collaborates with technology innovators to test, pilot and promote solutions tailored to northern and rural populations. “AgeTech Discovery Day is a chance for older adults, caregivers and the general public in Prince George to see, touch and ask questions about

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Dr. Shannon Freeman from UNBC Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North holds AI interactive robots used in a study of their effect on patients with dementia.

technologies that can help people stay independent in their own homes longer,” Freeman said. “Through our research at the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North, we hear directly from people in northern and rural communities about what they actually need, and that input shapes the technology that follows.” Bridgette Murphy, CEO of AGEWELL, said AgeTech has the potential to improve independence, health and quality of life for older adults. “AGE-WELL is thrilled to launch an initiative that will raise awareness of its benefits,” Murphy said. “More than an informational series, AGE-WELL AgeTech Discovery Day is meant to ensure older Canadians have a meaningful voice in AgeTech research, product design and policy development. We look forward to Oct. 1 and to building on this initiative in the years ahead.” Lunch will be provided free to attendees who register in advance. There will be a free lunch provided to attendees who register in advance. To register visit www.eventbrite. com/e/age-well-agetech-discovery-dayprince-george-bc-tickets

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN L.O.C.F.

Throwback Thursday: Week of September 24 September 24, 1974: Prince George prepared itself for the grand opening of the Pine Centre shopping complex. The first phase of the centre, scheduled to open Nov. 7, 1974, boasted a Woolco Department store, a Super Valu grocery store, and 40 other businesses. When complete, the complex had 10 acres under cover and cost more than $14 million. Citizen File Photo by Doug Weller.

September 25, 2006: The sixth annual BC Rivers Day Music Festival saw Earl Contols Jr. performing the hoop dance. Citizen File Photo by Brent Braaten.

September 24, 1987: Almost 700 elementary students participated in a cross-country run held at Beaverly elementary school. Citizen File Photo by Dave Milne.

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September 24, 1969: Agnes Van Adrichen was one of 48 youngsters enrolled in the new Montessori kindergarten class at Sacred Heart School on Patricia Blvd. Citizen File Photo by Dave Milne.

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COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Young angler lands derby’s biggest rainbow trout KEVIN GIBSON

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Great weather and calm conditions led to a successful fishing derby Sept. 5 and 6 on Kinbasket Lake. Young angler Gibson Clark landed the largest rainbow trout at the 45th annual Valemount Marina Fishing Derby. Clark won the seven-to-12-year-old rainbow division — and the derby’s

overall rainbow category — with a 4.38-pound catch during the weekend competition on Kinbasket Lake. His trout narrowly outweighed the 4.28-pound rainbow caught by Trevor Pelletier, winner of the men’s division. The September derby attracted 184 entries this year. Competitors caught 285 fish with a combined weight of 308.09 pounds, according to the official results.

While Clark caught the derby’s largest rainbow, Kennedy Carlton recorded the heaviest single catch listed in the results — a 6.17-pound coarse fish in the seven-to-12 youth division. Carlton also won the overall aggregate category with a combined weight of 14.01 pounds. Keven Baggett landed the derby’s largest kokanee at 0.70 pounds. He won the men’s kokanee category, followed by Charlie Mackenzie at 0.59 pounds. Pelletier’s 4.28-pound catch led the men’s rainbow category, with Keegan Reed placing second at 2.34 pounds. Terry Dennis won the men’s aggregate category with 13.37 pounds. Lily-Belle Funk won the ladies’ rainbow category with a 2.23-pound fish, narrowly ahead of Shawna Weid at 2.14 pounds. Jeanne Dennis won the ladies’ kokanee category with a 0.68-pound catch, while Karolyn Russ placed second at 0.61 pounds. Weid claimed the

ladies’ aggregate title with a combined weight of 13.53 pounds. In the teens division, Lily-Anne Alexander caught the winning 2.04-pound rainbow. Adrianna Erickson won both the kokanee category with a 0.32-pound catch and the aggregate category with 7.61 pounds. Among children six and younger, Conrad Duerksen-Ball caught the winning 1.72-pound rainbow, while Ryken Rice won the aggregate category with 1.96 pounds. The derby’s youngest participants were one-week-old Macy Van Moorsel, named the youngest fisher-girl, and two-year-old Hawes Smith, named the youngest fisher-boy. Anglers enjoyed calm water and warm, sunny weather throughout the weekend. For Clark, the derby ended with the largest rainbow trout of the competition and an imposing multi-level trophy to mark the achievement.

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Gibson Clark (left) captures the top prize at the Valemount Marina Fishing Derby.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

HEALTH

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Men’s sheds build connection across the North They’re a way for men to support one another JEFF KORMOS Northern Health

Men’s Sheds are all over Northern BC, bringing men together and supporting their mental health. A report released this year by the Canadian Mental Health Association found that men living in rural Canada face some of the toughest mental health challenges in the country. Men in rural areas often have less access to mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists and psychologists. They are also more likely to regularly use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis compared with many other groups. Many men find it hard to talk about their struggles. Instead, they may cope in ways that can be harmful to their health. As men get older, some worry about being a burden to their families, friends or communities. This can lead them to spend more time alone. Over time, isolation can increase feelings of loneliness and make them feel less connected to others. Some men may need professional mental health services. However, many simply need opportunities to connect with others. They want to share their skills, pass on their knowledge and tell their stories in a welcoming space. Having a sense of purpose and belonging can make a big difference. That’s where Men’s Sheds can help. Men’s Sheds are part of a worldwide movement that helps improve men’s health and well-being. The idea began in Australia in the mid-1990s and quickly spread to many countries. The concept is based on the familiar backyard shed — a place where men can build, repair, create and take a break from everyday stress.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Many men find it hard to talk about their struggles. Instead, they may cope in ways that can be harmful to their health.

There is no single way to run a Men’s Shed. Each one is shaped by the needs and interests of its members and the community it serves. The Men’s Shed Association of BC describes the idea simply: “Men helping men, working shoulder to shoulder.” In recent years, Men’s Sheds have become more common across Northern BC. This growth is partly due to the efforts of Men’s Shed Association of BC president Jan Fennema and the support of local communities. It also shows that there’s a strong need for places where men can connect and support one another. Of the roughly 90 Men’s Sheds in BC, about 20 are in the Northern Health (NH) region. As more people see the benefits of Men’s Sheds, that number is expected to continue growing. The Fraser Lake Men’s Shed brings men together and offers a place for connection. While Men’s Sheds are mainly places for men to connect, share skills and support one another, they also play an important role in their communities. This is especially true in the rural

communities of Northern BC. During visits to the Men’s Sheds in Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, I met many members and learned how the sheds have become valued community gathering places. I also saw how they give men a sense of purpose, belonging and connection. One of the big things I noticed was the strong sense of friendship among members. At every shed, I was welcomed with coffee and conversation. Members were eager to talk about what their shed meant to them and how it benefits the wider community. The sheds in these communities each run a “reuse” store. The stores sell donated items, as well as items that members have repaired or restored. Volunteers spend their time sorting donations, setting prices and helping customers. The stores earn enough money to cover the sheds’ operating costs and often bring in extra funds. Because the sheds are registered non-profit organizations, any extra money is given back to the community. The funds support local groups and services. Members

also volunteer their time to help people in need. They build things such as flower boxes and install accessibility equipment to make homes safer and easier to use. All of this work is done by volunteers. Fennema explained that volunteering gives many members a sense of purpose while helping others in their community. Not every Men’s Shed operates this way, but the model has been very successful in Fraser Lake, Fort St. James and Vanderhoof. Men’s Sheds are open to all men. Many members say the friendships and support they find at their shed have made a big difference in their lives. Staying connected with others can help prevent mental health problems. If you are having a mental health crisis, call or text 9-8-8, or visit the 9-8-8 website. Trained counsellors are available to listen, support you and help you get the care you need. For more information, to find a shed near you or to start a shed in your community, visit BC Mens Shed or contact Jan by email at bcmensshedassociation@gmail.com. All men are welcome, and the coffee is always on.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

Local Sports Track and field athletes bring home the bling Local 55+ athletes win medals at BC Games in Kamloops CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

I just returned from the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops, where I was competing in Track & Field. And it was a hoot. There is so much to say about the 55+ BC Games that I can barely figure out where to start. Well, let’s start at the beginning. I was honoured with a spot as a banner holder during the opening ceremonies and, yes, there is a lot of pomp and circumstance during the Games for us oldsters. And, yes, it was thrilling when Zone 9 was introduced. Each of us three banner holders got to walk into the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Powwow Arbour and, as we made our way around the arbour, the video was splashed across the big screen set up behind the stage as the MC offered up information about us in glowing terms. Alongside me were cribbage player Carol Thiessen and newto-the-Games pickleball player Cheryl Scanlan, both from Williams Lake. Needless to say, we were all thrilled to be there. The entertainment at the opening ceremonies was high energy, and everyone ended up coming down from the bleachers to dance while the sun went down in spectacular fashion. There were six Track & Field masters athletes from Prince George who competed during the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops, and we all brought home a little hardware for our efforts. The athletes are Tom Ukonmaanaho, 81, Brad Frenkel, 62, Joan Harris, 64, Suzanne Sharp, 72, Kelly Sharp, 72, and me, Christine Dalgleish, 63. Tom, who is always the star, took

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Brad Frenkel of the Prince George Track & Field Club took six gold medals at the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops Sept. 8 to 12 in track and field throwing events.

gold in the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200-metre sprints, high jump, javelin and pole vault, and silver in the 400metre and shot put. He also snagged the 50-metre and pole vault 55+ BC Games records during his busy days at the Tournament Capital Centre Hillside Stadium from Sept. 8 to 12. When I asked Tom what it was like to compete in so many events, I just heard a lot of laughter on the other end of the phone. “That says it best — there was a lot of laughing all the way through it,” Tom said. “It’s just part of my nature to compete in so many events.” As one can imagine, there is not a lot of competition in Track & Field for an 81-year-old athlete, and Tom is the first one to point it out.

“I think there were three of us in shot put and it was kind of crowded,” Tom laughed. “And for the rest of the way I think it was just two of us.” Tom is a sprinter, so the 400-metre sprint is the most challenging for him. He had other events to focus on, so he coasted through it, he said, knowing his energy was better spent elsewhere. The man who beat Tom in the 400-metre and 800-metre races had just returned from the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, where he had just missed the podium each time with a fourth-place finish in the world, Tom noted. Tom has an unusually long stride and looks like a gazelle when he runs. He is really something to see, and so many of us who know him can spot him from

across the track because of his signature stride. “Everyone was really friendly and at the finish line it’s like a reunion of old friends at the Games,” Tom said. “There was a father and son who had asked if they could talk to me after my run. The son said, ‘My dad and I were watching you run and that’s really good-looking running.’ They didn’t actually know what age group I was in and then, when I told them 80-plus, they started to ask me what I eat because I run so well. So I told them I eat a lot of fish because fish oil lubricates my joints. And that’s all I could tell them. It was a nice moment I had with them. A really nice moment.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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Praise for the volunteers, organizers and competitors CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Always the prankster, when fellow Prince George athlete Kelly Sharp stopped Tom to congratulate him on being inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame, Tom deadpanned, “How come I haven’t heard anything about it?” and, again, Tom laughed about it. “It still doesn’t feel real,” Tom said about the honour that will be made official at the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame gala at the Civic Centre on Saturday, Oct. 24. Full disclosure: I put together the nomination package for Tom to be inducted —- it took me months! — and, thanks to Harold Marioka, the BC Masters record keeper, I was able to list most of Tom’s world, Canadian and BC records and world championship wins. I also got many letters of support from members of the athletics community here in Prince George, and all of that helped to get this well-deserved honour bestowed upon Tom. So thank you, Track & Fielders! “It’s hard to believe it’s happening,” Tom said. For Brad Frenkel, a Prince George Track & Field Club athlete who throws hammer, discus, shot put, javelin and weight throw and competes in the throws pentathlon, the Games were a place where he was able to achieve a personal best in the throws pentathlon. He bettered his score by 190 points to reach 2,887 and took gold in every single event. Brad started throwing 12 years ago when his teenage daughter, Carly, was a member of the Prince George Track & Field Club and taught him how to throw. He turned 50 at that time, and that’s when he started competing. “The weights were lighter then because before you turn 50 you have to throw Olympic-size weights,” Brad explained. After learning the hammer and discus, Brad learned how to throw the other implements — shot put, javelin and weight throw —- but the first two he threw are still his favourites. Over the years, I have watched Brad increase his throwing distances, and his progress has been amazing.

55+ GAMES PHOTO

Joan Harris, above, throws during competition at the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops earlier this month. Below, Tom Ukonmaanaho, 81, a Prince George Track & Field Club member, leaves his competition behind during the 200m sprint.

“For me the goal is just improvement and so I think I’m hitting that,” Brad said. “I think in the future the training and injuries might become too much but for now it seems to be good to go.” The 55+ BC Games in Kamloops was a good experience for Brad. “The weather held out for the most part and I threw well,” he said. “It was good to meet all the people there and it was good to see all the guys down there. We come from all over the province, so it was nice to see them there because we only get together a couple of times a year. It’s always good to catch up and see what they’re up to. I always have so much fun watching them.” Zoltan Durgo, a masters athlete who is a member of the Kajaks Track & Field Club in Richmond, is a favourite among the throwers because he is so outgoing and engaging. “It’s always fun watching them,” Frenkel said. “The thrower, Zoltan, beat his personal best (PB) in hammer four consecutive times — so he just kept getting

better and better — and then beat his PB in weight throw by two and a half metres. That was unbelievable to watch. You don’t see that very often.” I spoke to Brad about his performance in the throws pentathlon. “That’s the thing about the throws pentathlon, you don’t have to be great, you just have to be consistent,” Brad said. “You just have to be good across five events — you don’t have to be great.” It’s always nice to go to the 55+ BC Games, he added. “You see the volunteers, the organizers and the officials and they are all great, so a big shoutout to them for putting on such a big event.” Results for the rest of the T&F athletes include: Joan Harris took gold in the throws pentathlon, shot put, discus and javelin and silver in hammer, discus and the 4x100-metre relay. Suzanne Sharp took gold in the 1,500metre and 5,000-metre race walk, power walk and 5,000-metre run.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Kelly Sharp took gold in the 800-metre, 1,500-metre and 5,000-metre runs. I took gold in hammer and weight throw, silver in the throws pentathlon and shot put and bronze in discus. Next year’s 55+ BC Games will be in Surrey from Sept. 14 to 18, 2027.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PG Track & Field Club awards outstanding athletes

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Here are some of the Junior Development athletes who were recognized for their outstanding performances during the Prince George Track & Field Club season.

Tom Ukonmaanaho acknowledged for being inducted into Sports Hall of Fame CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

The Prince George Track & Field Club had the end-of-season awards night on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. The awards were for most outstanding athletes focusing on excellence and impact awards. Here is the list of award winners: Junior Development Outstanding Athlete Carolyn Padilla – Girl 12 • Gold and Meet record at Sub Zero: 200m 30.17, discus 20.43m, javelin 13.4m

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Gold at Spruce Capital: 100m 14.49, 200m, 80m hurdles 14.59, long jump 4.05m, shot put 8.43 PB, discus 20.67, javelin 20.63 JD Championship: 7th 80m hurdles personal best (PB) 14.26, #5 long jump 4.14 PB, 4th javelin 21.85 PB Ellis Hutchison – Girl 10 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: 60m 10.06 • Gold at Sub Zero: Long Jump - 3.01m • Gold at Spruce Capital: 100m 16.15 Lilian Der – Girl 10 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: Shot put 5.58m • Gold at Sub Zero: 600m 2:21.98, javelin 11.46m • Gold at Spruce Capital: 60m hurdles 14.00, javelin 11.05m, shot put 6.21m (PB)

Emmett Baumbach – Boy 12 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: 800m 2:38.83 • Gold at Sub Zero: 100m 15.1, 200m 30.82, 1200m, long jump 3.82m, • Gold at Spruce Capital: 100m, 200m, 800m 2:29:26, 80m hurdles 16.19 • Gold at Jack Brow: 200m hurdles 33.8 (PB), 300m 49.27(PB), 800m Eli Baumbach - Boy 10 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: 60m 9.77, shot put 7.02m • Gold at Spruce capital: 60m hurdles 12.54 • Gold at Jack Brow: 100m 15.83 (PB), high jump 1.15m (PB), shot put 6.84m • Silver and PB at Jack Brow: long jump 3.45m Leo Boyd – Boy 9 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub

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Zero: 1000m 3:53.16 Silver at Sub Zero: 600m 2:14.71 Gold and Meet Record at Spruce Capital: 1000m 3:42.70

U14 Outstanding Athlete Ella Parks - Girl 13 • Gold at Sub Zero: 100m 14.26, 200m 30.0 • Gold and PB’s at Spruce Capital: 100m 14.14, 200m 29.7, 800m 2:42.54, 1200m 4:31.59 Kai Legut-Petersen - Boy 13 • Gold and Meet Record at sub Zero: 800m 2:34:37 • Gold at Sub Zero: 1200m 4:06:70, 2000m 7:12:03 • Gold and Meet Record at SC: 800m 2:26:37 • Gold at SC: 1200m 4:04:06, discus 15.52, javelin 19.9m CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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End-of-season awards night awards the best in local track CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE U16 Outstanding athletes *Zavier Gladdish - Team BC • Silver in Indoor Provincial Championship – compete with U18 1500m 4:30.74, • Bronze 3000m compete with U18 9:94:65 • Gold and Meet Records at Sub Zero for 1200m 3:49:97 and 2000m 5:58:22 • Gold medal win for High School Zones 800m, 1500m and 3000m • Bronze: 1500m High School \ Junior Boys Championship • Gold and PB: 1200m BC Championship 3:15.98 (Legion Standard) • Silver: 2000m BC Championship 5:56.65 (Legion Standard) • Gold: 2000m 6:00:21 at BC Summer Games, 4th 1200m 3:21:03 at BC Summer Games • 8th place finish for 1200m at Nationals 3:19.77, 11th and PB for 2000m 5:56.05 *Kasieobie Udumaga - Team BC • Gold and PB: 60m 7.32 at Harry Jerome indoor meet • Gold and Meet Records at Sub Zero for 100m 11.62 and 200m 23.06 • Gold Medal win for 100m and 200m High School Zones • Gold: 100m 11.25 BC Championship (Legion Standard) • Gold: 200m BC Championship (Legion Standard) • Gold and PB: 200m 22.75 at BC Summer Games, Gold for 100m 11.21 • Silver and PB: 100m 11.20 at Legions National, and 5th place for 200m *Graham Pryschlak • Gold and meet record at Sub Zero for shot put: 11.66 • Silver and PB at BC Championship for shot put 12.35 • 13th for 100m 12.35 at BC Championship • 5th for shot put 11.87 at BC Summer Games

U18 Outstanding Athletes *Madelin Standish • Silver at Sub Zero for high jump 38.16, Bronze for shot put 9.34 • Gold: Junior Hammer Throw High School Zones 44.02 (Meet Record) • Silver: Junior Hammer Throw BC High School Championship 42.28 Rachael Pruden • Gold at Indoor Provincial Championship for shot put 10.42, and 4th for high jump 1.35m, 5th for 60m hurdles 10.43 • 5th at for Heptathlon at Calgary Spring Challenge 3880 and season PB • High School Zones – Gold for high jump 1.40 • Silver at Sub Zero for 100m hurdles 17.3s * Nicolas Scarpino • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: 100m hurdles 15.84 • Gold 100m hurdles and High Jump at High School Zones • Gold Junior Boys Multi event BC High School Championship • Gold: Junior Boys 100m hurdles 14.00 • Bronze at BC outdoor Championship for Decathlon and PB 5117 *Jack Bolton • Bronze at Provincial Indoor Championship for 1500m 4:33.62 and 4th for 3000m 9:56:67 • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero for 3000m 9:29:05 • Gold and Meet record at Spruce Capital for 3000m 9:13:78 (PB) • Gold at Spruce Capital for 800m 2:08:67 • BC High School Championship, 19th for 1500m 4:14:98 (PB) U20 Outstanding Athletes *Kionae Roberts • Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: 200m 26.32 and 400m 58.53 • Gold: 100m and 200m at High

School Zones 8th place for 400m at High School Championship • Gold and Meet Record at Spruce Capital for 200m 26.9 and 800m 2:27.10 Kristian Richards • Silver at BC provincial indoor Championship for 1500m 4:31.50 • Silver and PB at Jack Brow for 800m 2:05:23 • Gold and PB at Jack Brow for 1500m 4:19:96 Athletes with an asterisk beside their names have all met the criteria standards for Outstanding Athletes: Medal wins at Provincial Championship meet(s), earning meet records, Top 8 finish at championship meet. Junior Development Excellence and Impact Awards Natalie Link – Girl 11 • Gold at Sub Zero – shot put 6.67 • Gold at Spruce Capital • 60m hurdles 12.54, shot put 6.25, javelin 12.19m Quinley Wedzinga – Girl 10 • Spruce Capital Gold: 1000m Jack Brow: Silver and PB, javelin. 9.23m, shot put 4.60m • Bronze and PB: 60m 10.46 and 60m hurdles 13.31 Micah Prinz – Boy 12 Gold and Meet Record at Sub Zero: Javelin 19.78m • Gold at Sub Zero: Shot put 6.11m, javelin 15.71m • Gold at Spruce Capital: Shot put (PB) 7.75m, discus 16.89 (PB), javelin 18.92 (PB) Benjain Freyleyjer – Boy 11 • Gold and meet record at Sub Zero: 60m 10.19 • Gold at Sub Zero: 600m 2:16.93, 1200m 2:16.93, 1200m 4:09:18, long jump 2.77m • Gold at Spruce Capital: 100m 16.56 Edward Baker – Boy 10 • 60m: 9.95 at Sub Zero and 9.85 and Gold at Jack Brow • 600m: 2:09.80 Gold and meet Record at Sub Zero, Silver and PB at Jack Brow 2:04.31 •

U16 Excellence and Impact Award Sam Hopson • Silver Provincial indoor championship: 1200m 3:57:00 and 2000m 7:00:46 • Gold for 800m,1500m, and 3000m High School Zones for Grade 8 boys, • Qualified for BC High school Championship for Grade 8 3000m and came in 21st • BC Championship 2000m, 16th with PB 6:40.01 • 12th and PB for 800m 2:22:23 at BC Summer Games Finley Burch • Indoor Provincial championship PB: 800m 3:24:08, 1200m 5:18.36 and 2000m 9:16:71 • Sub Zero: 800m 3:22:15, 1200m 5:04:37 • Summer Games PB: 800m 3:13:42, 1200m 4:59.60, U18 Excellence and Impact Awards Isabelle Day • Gold and PB at Sub Zero for 400m hurdles 1:18.33 • Gold: Junior Girls 80m hurdles and 300m hurdles. • BC HS Championship 24th 80m hurdles and 23rd for 300m hurdles • 7th at Jack Brow for 400 m hurdles, 9th for 100m and PB 13.64 *Ava Matthews • PV meet record at BC High School Zones 2.50 • BC High school Championship: 6th place for pole vault 2.55m (Senior Girls) • Gold and Meet Record at Spruce Capital for pole vault 2.8m. Tom Ukonmaanaho was acknowledged for being inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame. The gala presented by the committee will take place at the Civic Centre on Saturday, Oct. 24. The celebration for all the athletes continued with a pizza party. For more information about the club, visit pgtrackandfield.ca/

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SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Cougars defenseman Arsenii Anisimov holds back Vees forward Gavin Katz as he lunges for the puck during the Friday, Sept. 19 home opening game at CN Centre. The teams faced off again the next night. The Cougars are on the road this weekend.

Cougars split first two games with visiting Vees CITIZEN STAFF

After winning their home opener, the Prince George Cougars suffered their first setback of the 2026–27 season Saturday, Sept. 19, falling 5-1 to the Penticton Vees at the CN Centre. Penticton struck early, with Gavin Katz scoring on a fiveon-three power play at 3:51. The Vees added three more in the second period, including Tyler Deakos’ first WHL goal, to take a commanding 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. Prince George goaltender Peyton Shore kwept the Cougars in it early, turning aside 17 of 18 shots in the opening frame. Dmitri Yakutsenak finally got the Cougars on the board at 9:17 of the third, scoring his first of the season. But Nate Pederson answered with his second of the night at 17:23 to put the game away. The loss came after a 4-1 win against the Vees on Friday, Sept. 18. The Cougars head to Seattle to play the Thunderbirds on Saturday night, then to Vancouver to play the Giants on Sunday. Their next home game is Oct. 2 against Brandon Wheat Kings.

Cougars goalie Alexander Levshyn stops a shot fired by Vees forward Tristan Petersen Friday, then catches the puck on his blade while stopping another shot in the photo below.

CITIZEN PHOTOS BY CHUCK NISBETT

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

SPORTS

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Mikkelsen’s new book rides along with chuckwagon racer King of the Chucks is the story of a Grande Prairie driver’s dominant rise to the top TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

You don’t get the nickname King of the Chucks unless you’ve earned it. Kelly Sutherland certainly did that in his five decades as a professional chuckwagon racer. As a driver in a sport that’s uniquely Western Canadian, Sutherland rose to the top of the wagon trade and stayed there for more than 50 years, winning more world championships and Calgary Stampede titles than anybody who’s ever taken the reins. With his trademark eagle feather trailing from his hat, the legendary Grande Prairie cowboy was an intimidating sight for the other drivers and outriders as they lined up their rigs to run the barrels, waiting for the horn to start heading around the track. They knew that, with Sutherland’s skill as a driver and his reputation as a fierce competitor with a lust for winning, it was going to be difficult getting to the finish line ahead of him. Sutherland’s climb to chuckwagon racing’s throne has been documented in the book King of the Chucks by Prince George author Glen Mikkelsen. The CN Centre/entertainment manager for the City of Prince George has produced a well-researched dive into the archives, along with revealing interviews. “I’ve known Kelly probably 30 years and, just over that time, I’ve had a few opportunities to meet him and talk with him, and he’s such an engaging character with such a wealth and volume of stories that really nobody else has in the world,” said Mikkelsen. “After he retired (in 2017), he said maybe we should do this and it just took a while for us to both make the time and come together to work on the project. I don’t think there’s

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King of the Chucks author Glen Mikkkelsen, left, takes in the rodeo in Dawson Creek with chuckwagon legend Kelly Sutherland.

anybody in the world like Kelly Sutherland. It’s such an unusual and specific thing he’s done over his lifetime and to have such success at the level he did for five decades is just an unparalleled story. It’s a real pleasure to talk to him about it and share it with other people.” As Mikkelsen writes, chuckwagon racing revolves around the Calgary Stampede, the annual 10-day rodeo known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, where the rules of the sport evolved. With its big-money tarp auctions and $50,000 payday for winning on the final Sunday, the Rangeland Derby is the golden egg

for chuckwagon drivers. It’s been part of the Stampede since 1923, and Sutherland is a 13-time team Stampede champion, winning once as an outrider and a record 12 times as a driver, including six aggregate titles. “It’s considered to be the Grey Cup, the Masters of chuckwagon racing,” said Mikkelsen. “It’s the elite race to win every year and to do it over 10 days, it’s a gruelling competition because it is longer than any other race in the world, and he won it 12 times.” Sutherland is a 12-time world champion who’s competed in 77 championship final heats, including 21

Rangeland Derby finals, and won 25 of those championship races. “There’s so many things that can go wrong in a chuckwagon race with horses and outriders, there’s so many variables and to control them as best he can and to put him in a position where he had an opportunity to win, it’s just an amazing level of competition that Sutherland has,” said Mikkelsen. “People felt if they wanted to prove if they were at a championship elite level they had to beat Kelly. He had such a stature and level of respect within the racing community. They felt if they were going to beat anyone they wanted to beat Sutherland because he was the very best.” The owner of Kelly Bar in Grande Prairie, Alta., Sutherland fought the alcoholism demon that peaked in him in the mid-’90s until he quit drinking in 1995, and his squandered finances nearly ruined him. Sutherland had a reputation for being brash about his accomplishments and for speaking his mind, and that rubbed some of those close to the sport the wrong way. A year after being crowned Stampede champion, he quit the Rangeland Derby midstream in 1984 when he thought the judges were ganging up on him, giving him and his outriders penalties he felt they didn’t deserve. He was expecting a call from the Stampede the following year to run as an independent, but that call never came, so he missed the Rangeland Derby in 1985 but came back and won it the following year. “He had to leave at the top of his sport and thought he was going to retire and go do something else with his life but had second thoughts,” said Mikkelsen. “He had to earn his way back in to qualify, which he did in short order, and then he comes back and wins the Stampede. For him it was such a vindication that he could prove himself that he was tenacious on and off the track. It’s just such a compelling story.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Racing is a family tradition

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A young Kelly Sutherland turns the barrels in one of his thousands of races during his five-decade career.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE The majority of chuckwagon drivers in the 104-year history of the sport inherited their passion for racing chucks from an earlier generation in the family. For Sutherland, that passion was passed down from his dad, Max. That tradition of success spurred Kelly’s brother Kirk to get involved, and it continues today with their sons and grandsons now involved. The sport gives thoroughbred horses bred to race a new lease on life while they’re still in the prime of their lives. Sutherland knew how to pick the champions and raced some as old as 19. He took retired racehorses out of the box stalls they’d known all their lives and gave them a chance to roam free on his quarter section near Grande Prairie. “My horses mature late but they seem to last forever. I take pride in that,” Sutherland is quoted in the book. He bought his superstars, Ralph and Bobby, as six-year-olds in 1997, and together they led his teams around the tracks of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and BC for 13 years, winning more than $750,000. The nature of the sport demands a driver who’s fearless and has the strength and endurance to control all that horsepower released with every heat race. “The last five years he was competing

he would have to do exercises in January to get ready for spring training, otherwise his body wouldn’t be able to handle it,” said Mikkelsen. “In spring training they would have bruises all over their shoulders and back, just from pulling on those horses. It’s very physical.” Mikkelsen won a Hoffer Book Award in 2024 for his previous book, The Rangeland Derby - 100 Years of Chuckwagon Racing at the Calgary Stampede, and King of the Chucks follows a similar chronological format with superb photographs throughout the 319-page book. He had access to the Calgary Stampede photo archive and thoroughly researched articles published in The Calgary Herald and The Calgary Sun. He also credits his father, Mike, in Calgary for saving newspaper clippings and videotapes of Rangeland Derby races. Mikkelsen is the author of two other chuckwagon books, Never Holler Whoa: The Cowboys of Chuckwagon Racing and Checkered Courage, Chuckwagon Racing’s Glass Family, and a contributing writer to Icon, Brand, Myth: The Calgary Stampede. King of the Chucks is available at Books and Company in downtown Prince George (1685 Third Ave.). It’s also being sold locally at Coles in Pine Centre Mall.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Life Events Gijsbertus “Bert” van den Brink November 8, 1964 - March 17, 2026 Internment was held at Prince George Memorial Park Cemetery on Wednesday September 23,2026 Thank you to all who attended, and please light a candle for Bert

William Cameron Bailey May 21, 1940 - August 15, 2026

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our Dad and Grandpa, Bill Bailey, after a several year battle with cancer.

Kenneth David Berry

January 30, 1938 - September 3, 2026 Ken, 88, passed away peacefully September 3, 2026. A devoted husband to June for 67 years, he cherished family, woodworking, and time at the lake. nown for his skilled hands as a mechanic and forklift operator, he was proudly gifted the mug f Grandpa can t it, no one can.”

A special thank you to Dad’s good friends Noel and Therese for being there for him and to the Care Aides, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Doctors who helped take care of him. His journey is ended, his memory remains. No service by request.

Ken is survived by his wife, June; sons Dale, Brian, Greg sister une grandchildren great grandchildren; and Buddy. He was predeceased by parents, Rebecca and David; siblings Katherine, Fred; and son Donald.

Joseph “George” Moyan

August 3, 1950 - September 6, 2026 He was born in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan on August 3, 1950 and passed away on September 6, 2026 in Prince George, BC.

Lisa-Mari Hamblin

September 24, 1984 - August 21, 2026

Now she flies with the angels.

Lisa passed away unexpectedly in UHNBC on August 21, 2026. She is survived by her beloved son Kaiden and loving family. Remember Lisa for her kindness and joy she brought to others in life not for the sorrow and sadness of her passing. A celebration of life to be held ctober , , am at PG Tabernacle spika Blvd. Luncheon to follow.

George is survived by his loving wife Brenda Moyan; sons Virgil Moyan and Shawn Fors (Dianna); grandchildren Jocelyn Fors, Lucas Moyan and Logan oyan sisters Darlene widerski, arlene ettee George Baba and numerous other relatives and friends too many to mention. Predeceased by his grandfather ean Baptiste Lagimodiere; grandmother Caroline Lagimodiere; mother Rose Anne Pinkerton; father William Moyan; step father Robert Pinkerton; sisters Josephine Moyan and Agnes Kaska; brothers Lawrence Moyan, John Moyan, Charlie Moyan and Gary Pinkerton; niece Willow Moyan and many nieces; nephews John Moyan Junior(Agnes), Rick Moyan (Lorraine) and cousins. George fought a hard battle with cancer and is now at peace. There will be a Celebration of ife at a later date.

Glen Francis Yelland

October 2, 1942 - September 25, 2026 Glen was born October 2, 1942 in Tisdale, SK to Marjorie and Jack Yelland. Glen moved with his parents and 5 siblings, Erla, Irwin, Barry, Murray, and Wendy to Nipawin where he played sports in high school including football and hockey. Later, Glen went on to play for the Nipawin Hawks and Moose Jaw Canucks. Prior to Glen s move in to Prince George, British Columbia with his wife, Linda (Wall), Glen played for the Vanderhoof Bears. He later joined the Prince George Mohawks and played with them during Coy Cup wins and old timer hockey later on in retirement. Glen worked for BC Tel (now Telus) and Business Telecom quipment until he retired at the age years. n Glen s retirement he received a merit award from the C P for his work done on activating the system in Northern British Columbia. Glen s after retirement job was with the Northern Health Authority working ing the phone and communication systems until he retired at age . Glen went to be with Kay September 5, 2026. Glen is survived by his best friend and granddaughter, Zoey Banks, his son, Murray Yelland (Nina), his daughter, Angie Banks (Mike), and Kay’s son and daughter-inlaw, Ron and Julie Fisher, and their children, Tori and Lauren. Forever in our minds is the smile that Dad had on his face each and every time iller and ennie visited him. Glen s family will keep his birthday tradition of gol ng on his birthday October 2nd. There will be a barbecue on October 2 at 4 p.m. at egault oad in celebration of his life. Please te t to con rm attendance.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Honouring

LIFE EVENTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

those who have touched our lives

Timothy Tennessy

August 16, 1948 - September 2, 2026 frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.2441

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Timothy Tennessy, as he will be dearly missed. Tim was a devoted son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, and friend. He will be lovingly remembered by his sister Charleen, his brother ichael, his nephews Blair (Jeane e) and revor ( arah), niece Joanna (Dan), reat nieces ali, Bryn, eadow, ila, Daisy, and reat nephews inden, Mickey, Parker, and many lifelong friends.

Celebration of Life

Edward James Griffth

March 28, 1931 - June 9, 2026 here will be a celebra on of the life of dward James ri th on ctober , at am at the Bon oya e.

Travis Alexander Betke

May 22, 1996 - August 31, 2026 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Travis Alexander Betke of Prince George, B.C., at the age of 30. Survived by mother Michelle Anderson (Dwayne); father Jeff Bet e ( ar uita) brothers David urner ( rys e and Ivy), Brandon Betke (Raven), Corey Dean, and Ethan Anderson; grandparents Rose Reimer, Art Betke, and Dorothy Betke. Quiet, intelligent, funny, and endlessly curious, Travis loved science, amin , horror movies, and fascina n facts. He was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words. celebra on of ravis s life will be announced at a later date.

Predeceased by his parents, Tony Sr. and Rena, and his brother, Tony, and his brother-in-law Jack. A life well lived, Tim had a love of travel and was fortunate to visit ve con nents. He was proud to be a member of the I.U.O.E. Local 115 for the past 60 years.

David Michael Alexander Bacon BACON, David Michael Alexander, beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026 in Victoria, BC. David was predeceased by his parents George and Daisy, and by his siblings John, Joan, Tiny, Lilian, Heather and George. He will be greatly missed by sister Jordan (Nick), nephews Bob, Jason (Jennifer), and Jeff (Richenda), nieces Jennifer (David) and Kristal (Daron), and greatnieces and great-nephews.

he family would li e to e tend their sincere ra tude to the staff at H BC and rince eor e Hospice House for the compassionate care and support they provided.

Dave was a self-reliant spirit with great compassion toward others; he was always involved with unhoused people, wherever he lived, and often informally visited with them, bringing breakfast and coffee. Dave loved his independence, sports, music and, above all, his family and friends, and offered friendship, enthusiasm and companionship.

n lieu of owers, please consider dona ons in im s memory be made to rince eor e Hospice allia ve Care Society.

Thanks to First Memorial and thanks especially to the doctors and staff of the Campbell River Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their care of Dave.

Celebra on of ife will be held on unday eptember at am at rince eor e olf Curlin Club ( Recplace Dr).

A private memorial will be held at a later date.

Classifieds THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Booking deadline: Friday noon Approval deadline: Monday at noon

frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca 250.562.2441

Call 250.562.2441 to book your space now.

RENOVATIONS

BUYING

TREE SERVICE

CASH FOR GOLD & SILVER Coins, jewelry, nuggets, bullion sterling, etc. Also buying entire COIN COLLECTIONS Todd 250-864-3521

BBC TREE WORX Bucket Truck, hedging and tree removal. For FREE estimates call or text Brian 250.649.8447

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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER

PLEASE MINES ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR 2010 Ford F150RECYCLE A PERMIT APPROVING THE Lariat Loaded PROPOSED AMENDED THIS $1500 MINE PLAN AND RECLAMATION PROGRAM FOR SAND AND GRAVEL EXTRACTION AREA 778-683-2608 NEWSPAPER FOR SALE

BOOST YOUR AD ADD A PHOTO FOR SALE

Take notice that Sheldon Mayert of PG ROCK AND GRAVEL LTD. has filed with the Chief Permitting Officer pursuant to Part 10.2.1 of the Health and Safety Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, a proposed mine plan together with a program for the protection and reclamation of the land and watercourses related to the property Zoot’s Pit located at 5027 Sandberg Rd (PID 012-102539) / 5050 Sandberg Rd (PID 023-519-801) in Prince George, BC. A copy of the permit application, including supporting documentation, is available for public viewing at: Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St, Prince George, BC, and Bob Harkins Branch 888 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC, V2L 5T6, and Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, No. 350, 1011 - 4th Ave, Prince George, BC, V2L 3H9. Any person affected by or interested in this program has 30 days to make a written representation to the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, c/o 350, 1011 - 4th Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L 3H9 or email: mmd-princegeorge@gov.bc.ca

ADD COLOUR AT N0 CHARGE

Application information and instructions for submitting comments to the Ministry are also available on the Mines Public Engagement Portal at: www.gov.bc.ca/minesengagement

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

On Oct. 5, 1877, Chief Joseph of the Nez •Perce tribe7,formally surrendered On Sept. 1776, the American to U.S. Generalcraft Nelson Miles in to submersible TurtleA.attempted theattach Bear aPaw timemountains bomb to the of hullMontana, of Britsaying, “Hear Richard me, myHowe’s chiefs:flagship, My ish Admiral heart is sick andYork sad.Harbor, From where the Eagle, in New marking sunthe now I will fightinno more firststands, use of a submarine warfare. forever.” He and his people were • Onrelocated Sept. 8, 1664, Dutch Gover-in forcibly to a reservation

nor 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 to April 19) After much subjectsthis refused their support. traveling year, you’re due forNew some Amsterdam’s wasand changed to Use settled time withname family friends. New York in honor of the Duke of this period to check out situations that organized willYork, soonwho require a lotits ofcapture. serious decision making. • On Sept. 9, 1939, moviegoers at the Fox Theater in Riverside, California, TAURUS (Aprilto20 May 20) screenKeep were treated anto unexpected youringkeen BovineMitchell’s mind focused on of Margaret “Gone with yourthefinancial situation, it begins Wind,” shown by theastheater man-to undergo changes. Consider your ager assome a second feature while producmoney moves Avoid impulsive er David O. carefully. Selznick observed their investments. reactions from the back of the theater. The movie was released a few months GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’ll need later. to adjust some of your financial plans On Sept. 10,are 1960, Hurricane Donnow •that things changing more na struck Florida Keys asAll a Categoquickly thanthe you expected. the facts 4 storm. The devastating hurricane youryneed haven’t yet emerged, so move ultimately killed more than 350 people cautiously. 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

Indian Territory. * On Oct. 6, 1908, the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary announced its annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dual provinces in the Balkan region of Europe that were formerly under the Ottoman Empire’s control. * On Oct. 7, 1916, in what proved to be the most wildly lopsided game in college football’s history, Georgia Tech, coached by John Heisman (the namesake of college football’s most famous trophy), took a 63-0 lead in the first quarter against Cumberland University, eventually trouncing their opponent with a final score of 222-0.

* On Oct. 8, 1957, a piano-thumping, bible-school dropout named Jerry Lee Lewis gave the music world what would become the definitive version of “Great Balls of Fire” for Sun Records. Hours into the session, Lewis began arguing with the label’s head, Sam Phillips, that the song was “too sinful” for him to record, but Phillips prevailed and the tune quickly became Lewis’ second smash hit, after “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” * On Oct. 9 2004, Afghans made history by holding their first direct presidential election. Despite security concerns, more than 10 million Afghans had registered to vote, 41%

of them women; approximately 8.1 million ultimately cast ballots. * On Oct. 10, 1991, former U.S. postal worker Joseph Harris shot and killed two of his former co-workers at the Ridgewood, New Jersey, post office. The night before, he’d murdered his former supervisor, Carol Ott, with a samurai sword and shot her fiance, Cornelius Kasten, in the couple’s home. After a four-hour standoff with police at the post office, Harris was arrested. His crime was one of several high-profile attacks that led to the inclusion of the phrase “going postal” in the American vocabulary.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Personal and professional relationships dominate this period. Try to keep things uncomplicated to avoid misunderstandings that can cause problems down the line.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Confidence grows as you work your way through some knotty situations. Watch out for distractions from well-meaning supporters that could slow things down.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Congratulations! This is the week that you’ve been waiting for: After a period of sudden stops and fitful starts, your plans can now move ahead without significant disruptions.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) An elusive goal that you’d been hoping to claim is still just out of reach. But something else has come along that could prove to be just as desirable, if only you’d take the time to check it out. VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good time to get away for some much-needed rest and relaxation. You’ll return refreshed and ready to take on a workplace challenge that awaits you!

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Consider spending more time contemplating the possibilities of an offer before opting to accept or reject it. But once you do make a decision, act on it. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You’re in a very strong position this week to tie up loose ends in as many areas as possible. Someone close to you has advice you might want to heed.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’re in an exceptionally strong position this week to make decisions on many still-unresolved matters, especially those involving close personal relationships. PISCES (February 19 to March 20) This week starts off with some positive movement in several areas! A special person becomes a partner in at least one of the major plans that you’ll be working on.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Homes & Living

From garden to pantry: making the most of the fall farvest There is something satisfying about walking into the garden on a cool September morning and realizing just how much food you’ve managed to grow. After a Northern B.C. summer of long daylight hours, regular watering, weeding and perhaps a little swearing at the weeds, the garden is finally paying you back. The tomatoes are ripening. The potatoes are ready to dig. Carrots and beets have filled out, zucchini seem to have multiplied overnight, and there may be enough beans to feed the entire neighbourhood. And that’s when the gardener faces an entirely different problem: What are you going to do with it all? The key to a successful fall harvest is to start picking before the weather

makes the decision for you. In Northern B.C., September can be a beautiful month, but gardeners know that overnight temperatures can change quickly. A warm afternoon doesn’t necessarily mean frost isn’t lurking just around the corner. Tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans and cucumbers are particularly vulnerable to a hard frost. Keep an eye on the forecast and harvest accordingly. Tomatoes don’t necessarily have to be perfectly red before they come off the vine. Green or partially ripe tomatoes can often be brought indoors and allowed to finish ripening in a warm location. Beans are best picked while they are still young and tender, while zucchini should be harvested regularly. Leave

one on the plant for too long and you may find yourself wondering whether you’re growing zucchini or baseball bats. Root vegetables are generally more forgiving. Carrots and beets can tolerate cooler conditions, and potatoes can remain in the ground until you’re ready to dig them, provided conditions remain suitable. Whatever you’re harvesting, handle it carefully. Bruises, cuts and damaged skin can dramatically reduce how long produce will keep. Freezing is probably one of the easiest ways to preserve a bumper crop. Many vegetables, including beans, carrots, peas and broccoli, benefit from being blanched briefly in boiling water before being cooled quickly, drained and packaged for the freezer.

It takes a little preparation, but it’s worth the effort when you’re pulling a bag of garden vegetables from the freezer in January. Berries can be spread out on a baking sheet and frozen individually before being transferred to freezer bags or containers. Frozen berries are perfect for smoothies, muffins, pies and desserts during the winter. Shredded zucchini is another freezer favourite. Portion it into suitable quantities and you’ll have an easy ingredient ready for baking when the garden is nothing more than a distant memory. For gardeners who enjoy a little more traditional food preservation, fall is prime time for canning. Tomatoes can become pasta sauce, salsa or other preserved products. continued on next page

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN continued from last page

Cucumbers can be turned into pickles, while apples and berries can become jams, jellies and sauces. Canning does require some care, however. This isn’t an area where it’s wise to make up your own processing times or rely on an old recipe of questionable origin. Use current, tested food-preservation recipes and follow the instructions carefully. Proper acidity, processing time and temperature are important for food safety. A food dehydrator can also be a gardener’s best friend. Herbs, apples, berries and tomatoes can all be dried for later use. Dehydrated produce takes up considerably less storage space and, when properly prepared and stored, can last for months. Dried herbs are particularly useful. Rather than watching an abundance of parsley, oregano, thyme or other herbs succumb to the first frost, harvest them and preserve them for winter cooking. A little summer flavour can make a January stew considerably more interesting. Sometimes the best preservation is

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

dinner Not everything needs to go into a freezer, jar or dehydrator. If you have an abundance of vegetables, start cooking. Roast a big tray of carrots, potatoes, onions and other vegetables. Make a large batch of tomato sauce. Turn surplus vegetables into soup or stew and freeze the finished meals in individual containers. Extra apples can become applesauce, pies or crisps. This approach has an added advantage: you’re not simply preserving ingredients — you’re preserving meals. On a cold Northern B.C. evening, there’s something particularly satisfying about pulling a container of homemade soup from the freezer and remembering that most of the ingredients came from your own backyard. Of course, even the most enthusiastic gardener eventually reaches the point where there is simply too much. That’s when the garden becomes a community resource. Share extra produce with friends, family and neighbours. A basket of tomatoes, a bag of potatoes or a few jars

of homemade jam can be a welcome gift. Consider connecting with local food-sharing programs or community organizations that accept fresh produce. Check with them first to determine what they can accept and how it should be prepared. You may also discover that your neighbours have exactly what you need — and are looking for what you have. One person has too many cucumbers. Another has more apples than they know what to do with. Someone else has an abundance of potatoes. A simple exchange can keep perfectly good food out of the waste stream. Despite our best efforts, some produce will go bad. Damaged or spoiled plant material can often become part of next year’s growing medium through composting. Garden scraps, leaves and other suitable organic material can eventually break down into valuable compost. However, be cautious about adding diseased plants to a backyard compost pile. Some plant diseases can survive the composting process and potentially return to your garden.

Property & Strata Management

The end of the growing season may look like the end of the gardening year, but it really isn’t. September is the payoff — the time when months of work become meals, preserves, gifts and memories. So grab a basket, check the weather forecast and head outside. The Northern B.C. garden is giving you one last big assignment before winter: **harvest everything you can, waste as little as possible and enjoy the fruits — and vegetables — of your labour.

Aspire Realty

1625 – 4th Ave Prince George • 9-5 Monday to Friday

Call to obtain an application and book and appointment to view. 250-596-8150 ext.0

rlpaspirepropertymanagement.ca or email rlpaspireapply@gmail.com for more info Utilities Included

1800 Upland St. $1,600 2 BED – 1BATH $1,300 1 BED – 1BATH $2,300 3 BED – 2.5 BATH $3,600 4 BED – 3.5 BATH

3965 2nd Ave Unit B $1300/m 2 BED - 1 BATH 5 - 2212 Redwood unit B $1200 plus BC Hydro 2 BED – 1 BATH 4127 Nordic Dr $1750 plus utilities - pet friendly

Each office individually owned and operated

111- 2938 Hopkins $1,915.00 plus BC hydro 2 BED – 2 BATH

227 Gillett $1200 2 bed - 1 bath

1661 4th Ave $ 2600.00 utlites incl. w/garage 4 BED - 1 BATH

206 -2478 Upland St. $1200 1 Bed - 1 Bath

224 - 3033 Ospika Blvd $1650 plus hydro 2 BED – 2 BATH

701 Ahbau St (½ Duplex) $1800 Plus utilities 2beds - 1 bath

105- 506 Gillett St Unit 105 $2100 with GARAGE 2 BED - 2.5 BATH

7009 Irene Road (Ground Level) $1300 Unit A 1 Bed - 1Bath

107 – 2938 Hopkins $1915 plus BC Hydro 2 BED – 2 BATH

7452 Irene Road $2400 3 Beds - 2 Baths

1317 Porter Unit A $1800 3 Beds - 1.5 Baths

102-4144 15th $1100 plus Hydro 1 Bed - 1 Bath

We have office’s covering areas in Quesnel, Terrace, Burns Lake, Valemount, McBride, Chetwynd and Dawson Creek

D SOL T GUS U A N

MLS# R3145052

G NDIN

106-3777 MASSEY DR., $179,900

#206-2217 REGENTS CRES., $209,900

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MLS# R3160774

MLS# R3136908

2066 ROSS CRES., $260,000 MLS# R3120837

MLS# R3155158

Amit Luthra Realtor® 250-981-9090

MLS# R3164576

7729 EMERALD DR. $139,900

2697 ABBOTT CRES., $455,900

Grace Purdey Realtor® 250-612-2238

MLS# R3146654

D SOL T GUS U A N

I 2263 NORWOOD ST. $229,900

8487 PETER RD. $269,900

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MLS# R3156720

D SOL T GUS U A IN

2944 MEYER RD. $309,900

2328-2330 OAK ST., $389,900

288 S NICHOLSON ST., $399,900

1753 KENWOOD ST., $419,900

MLS# R3163777

MLS# R3138548

MLS# R3159508

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204-467 TABOR BLVD $459,900 MLS# R3116319

5559 HEYER RD., $529,900 MLS# R3167231

D SOL UST G U IN A 6128 BERGER PL. $574,900

MLS# R3123294

Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228

Joy Paul Realtor® 778-681-8474

1716 SHADY VALLEY RD., $584,900 MLS# R3138631

FOR SALE

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

PRE-REGISTER AT www.TynerRidgeEstates.ca

SOLD SOLD

5836 TRENT DR. $609,900

1684 10TH AVE., $649,900

MLS# R3160279

MLS# R3149547

9122 REYNOLDS RD., $649,900 MLS# R3164410

7491 SOUTHRIDGE AVE $659,000 MLS# R3128318

2870 GREENFOREST CRES. $680,000 MLS# R3157274

SOLD

SOLD SOLD

SOLD

SOLD SOLD SOLD

D SOL T GUS U A IN

SOLD SOLD

SOLD

MLS# R3151740

Zaviery Dodd Realtor® 250-649-8097

SOLD

MLS# R3161131

*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.

SOLD

Matt Petkau Realtor® 250-617-8179

SOLD

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

out .95% FULL SERVICE MLS LISTING* Check full listing SERVICE information FREE FULL AT A at MARKET FAIR PRICE MaxSave.ca EVALUATION

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

SOLD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

SOLD

LOTS START AT $230,000 WITH VIEW AND GREENBELT LOTS AVAILABLE.. AVAILABLE. LOTS FOR SALE 2746 PINE ST., $45,000 - MLS R3140749 LOT 2 COLUMBIA RD - 4.15 AC $379,900 - MLS R3152769 LOT 28 5314 HEADLANDS HTS., $339,900 - MLS R3119081

4605 GANNETT RD $759,000

7614 ST. ANDREW CRT,. $824,900

6281 N. NECHAKO RD. $849,900

5101 HEADLAND HGTS $889,900

7756 N. NECHAKO RD. $899,900

Lot 6, WESTERN PROPERTIES $219,900 - MLS R2837586 Lot 9, WESTERN PROPERTIES $219,900 - MLSR2837613