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Mavrik’s legacy His love of hockey never wavered as he faced off against cancer. Now, in his memory, his parents have started a new foundation to help other families See the story on Page 2 Walking out onto the Canucks’ ice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver was a highlight of Mavrik Turnbull’s too-short life.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
New foundation will help fund families’ medical trips Mavrik Turnbull Legacy Fund will also support young hockey players TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
In his short life, Mavrik Turnbull touched thousands of people in his battle against cancer, and hockey was the binding tie. The little boy from Prince George was nuts about the game, and hockey players and teams in Canada and the U.S. responded with an overwhelming show of support. They showed up for hospital visits to brighten his day, gave him sticks and jerseys, played mini-sticks with him in the hallways and invited him to their games for ceremonial puck drops. NHL stars Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard were among 50 players who visited him in his final weeks at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver. The family has a photo of Celebrini holding Mavrik’s hand as he lay on his bed, struggling to stay awake. Word of his terminal condition and move to hospice care spread rapidly. Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Meghan Agosta sent personal videos to him. Jansen Harkins, a former Prince George Cougar now with the Tampa Bay Lightning, dropped by to give him his special Cougars jersey in blue, Mavrik’s favourite colour. Harkins was able to get him out of bed for a game of mini-sticks, and his visit went on for hours. Mavrik’s magnetic personality made it hard for people to leave his side. On July 6, he took his last breath, two months before his fourth birthday. On Saturday, Sept. 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., he’ll be remembered at a celebration of his life at CN Centre that will be livestreamed. The Cougars and Spruce Kings will be there to pay tribute to an amazing little boy who fought so hard for nearly two years to beat Stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma.
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Vanessa Turnbull holds her son Mavrik while standing next to Mavrik’s sisters Ayla, left, and Stella and his dad Derek.
Mavrik’s ordeal and the burden his illness put on his parents, Derek and Vanessa, led to the creation of the Mavrik Turnbull Legacy Fund. With practically all of his cancer treatments 827 kilometres away in Vancouver, Vanessa was forced to give up her job as a child protection social worker to be with Mavrik full-time, while Derek commuted every two weeks to his job as a lead hand at the CN Rail intermodal facility in Prince George. While there were some financial supports in place, it took the family months to access them. They learned from hospital staff and other parents with sick kids how to navigate the system and get some of the help they needed from Childhood Cancer Canada and the BC Cancer Agency, but there was no direct source of funding to help pay the cost of their travel. Money from the Mavrik Legacy Fund will pay for a flight or a restaurant meal for other families and will be made available as soon as it’s needed to take some of the financial burden off Northern BC families facing similar situations
“Our foundation is the only one in Northern BC that actually helps Northern BC families. There’s no place for families from the north to turn to get any funding,” said Derek Turnbull. “It’s quite a long application process, and you don’t know until you’re in the hospital talking to the social workers in Vancouver to be able to even apply for any of that stuff. It’s a process, and you can only apply a certain amount of times, and the funds don’t go very far, especially if you don’t have certain insurance.” The Turnbulls are grateful for the generosity of donors and how the hockey community rallied around Mavrik, and they hope to repay some of that goodwill. The remaining money from a GoFundMe campaign and a Prince George Community Foundation endowment fund has been turned over to Mavrik’s charity. The Turnbulls have gathered contact information and advice on how to navigate the system and where to go for funding, which has been posted on the Mavrik Turnbull Foundation website.
“We wanted to create a centralized resource for families to go to, and it’s all stuff we had to find ourselves,” said Turnbull. “There are these foundations and companies that can help families, but unless you’ve talked to another family that’s gone through it, you don’t know.” There’s more to it. Mavrik’s love for hockey will help young players get their careers in the sport off to a good start. Each year, the foundation will sponsor at least one player who has gone through a medical challenge, and it will pay for that player’s hockey equipment or registration costs. “Hockey was everything to this kid. He loved it,” said Derek. “He was playing, he was watching it, he had Playmobil Lego figures, he would play with hockey cards and learn the players’ names. He’s the only three-year-old that I know who could name off every NHL team. He knew most of the WHL teams and probably 150 players. “Hockey was everything. His favourite songs were the Canadian national anthem, the Cougars’ goal song (Wow by Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and The Hockey Song by Stompin’ Tom Connors. He loved puck drops and did four of them — one with the Cougars, one with the Langley Rivermen when they played the Spruce Kings in Langley, one with the Abbotsford Canucks and one with the Vancouver Giants. He just loved hockey.” In May, the Turnbulls went to Boston to receive proton radiation treatment, a trip that took weeks to line up. The surgery Mavrik had to remove a tumour from his abdomen didn’t get all of the cancer, and by the time they got to Boston, it had grown back and wrapped around his spine to the point where it became inoperable. “Because we don’t have access to (some procedures) in Canada, we lose kids,” said Derek. “I would like to see, in the long term, being able to partner with larger foundations like the Michael Cuccioni Foundation in Vancouver and bring better cancer treatments to Canada. No kid should have to go through this.”
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Council votes for more scrutiny on new data centres COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
City of Prince George staff will look into how to manage potential future data centre projects after receiving direction from city council at its Monday, Aug. 31, meeting. Councillors Brian Skakun and Garth Frizzell gave advance notice at the Monday, Aug. 17, council meeting that they would call on their colleagues to direct staff to prepare a high-level overview of regulatory tools and policy models used in other jurisdictions. In their submission, Skakun and Frizzell said Prince George is increasingly likely to face proposals for large-scale data centres as investment in AI and cloud infrastructure expands. They argued the city should establish a proactive regulatory framework before such projects arrive, citing concerns about safety, infrastructure demands, environmental impacts and whether communities receive meaningful economic benefits. The proposed review would examine options for establishing clear zoning, permitting and transparency requirements for data centres, their report states. It would also consider ways to assess and mitigate potential impacts on electricity demand, water consumption and local infrastructure. The councillors want the city to explore how agreements with data centre operators could ensure measurable economic benefits, including tax revenue, partnerships and opportunities for local participation. Another focus would be protecting Prince George residents from potential costs associated with infrastructure or utility upgrades required to support large facilities, their report states. Environmental considerations, including whether future developments align with the city’s climate goals, would also be part of the review. The motion does not propose specific data centre regulations. Instead, it would direct staff to research regulatory approaches elsewhere and present council with options as the city
prepares for potential future proposals. Speaking further on their proposal on Aug. 31, Frizzell said Skakun was away recovering from a previously scheduled medical procedure. He emphasized the importance of considering environmental and infrastructure concerns while ensuring Prince George economically benefits from potential future data centre projects. Director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik said staff felt the proposal and its goals were understandable and they did not have any questions at the moment, though they might have some in the future. She added that some of the points raised in the notice of motion may not fall under municipal jurisdiction, but staff would check and report back. Coun. Cori Ramsay asked whether the information being requested was neutral or whether it would be positive or negative toward data centres. Frizzell said it was intended to guide future decision-making. Ramsay added that she had heard there would be a federal announcement regarding the principles of data centre development sometime between Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Tuesday, Sept. 8, with a key piece being that companies should be responsible for producing the energy their facilities require. She also said it was important for the city to consult residents on whether data centres are something they want, as she had heard a lot of opposition. She proposed an amendment to have staff report back on potential public consultation opportunities on the subject. Coun. Ron Polillo asked when Frizzell hoped staff would return with the information. Frizzell said likely after the local election scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. Wasnik said her team was trying to complete several projects before the election and was not sure when it would be able to complete this report. Coun. Tim Bennett said data centres have been a hot topic in the community, with residents speaking out on both sides of the argument. He said he did not support writing a letter of support for the CedarCore AI
project because of water, power and potential health impacts. Though he said he would like to see policies in place before an influx of new applications, he wondered whether there was time to do so. Wasnik said she believed there was time, as the only two local data centre projects she was aware of were the IREN and CedarCore AI ones. Coun. Kyle Sampson said projects could come in from many different angles and that he appreciated having the legwork done ahead of time. He said his concern was that Frizzell’s motion, as proposed, did not seem to offer suggestions for how to implement policy in PG. Frizzell said he imagined staff would investigate best practices and return with suggestions on how to implement them. Wasnik said she agreed with Frizzell’s interpretation. Coun. Susan Scott said council needs a better understanding of what tools it already has at its disposal that it could
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use to regulate data centres. Mayor Simon Yu said it was his understanding that data centres were originally used for bitcoin mining before the province instituted a power cap. He said AI research will be prevalent over the next two years and that he was glad Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared an interest in doubling Canada’s electrical generating capacity. Ramsay’s amendment was unanimously approved, and the amended motion was then approved unanimously.
Vote summary Motion: Council directs city staff to prepare a high-level overview of regulatory tools and policy models from other jurisdictions to apply to the future arrival of data centres in Prince George, as well as look into potential public consultation options on the subject to gauge residents’ responses. Result: Approved unanimously.
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NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Bird outlines reasons for leaving Conservative caucus BOB MACKIN Citizen Staff
For Rosalyn Bird, frustration with the direction of the Conservative Party of BC caucus under leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay had been building for some time. The Prince George-Valemount MLA, elected as a Conservative in 2024, quit caucus on Tuesday, Aug. 25, three days after deputy whip Reann Gasper resigned as the Abbotsford-Mission MLA so Findlay could run in a byelection for a seat in the legislature. Gasper subsequently became Findlay’s deputy chief of staff, although Findlay said it was “totally unfounded” that she offered Gasper the job as an incentive or consolation. “Those are fairly serious allegations, not something to be taken lightly,” Bird said in an interview with The Citizen. “That, along with a sense that the party is moving in a direction that I’m not
completely comfortable with and just not a feeling of unity.” Gasper’s resignation came as a surprise, and Bird was also shocked to learn about it at the same time as the public. “I’m not sure that was well-planned, so it was definitely one of the pieces in my consideration to leave,” Bird said. Despite Findlay talking about caucus unity, she said former BC United (BCU) members were not made to feel welcome, including Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, Bird and Ian Paton, MLA for Delta South. Milobar and Paton quit Aug. 14 and Aug. 24, respectively, and plan to form their own party. “There’s been these conversations about the Conservative purity test, we
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don’t want people that were previously BCU to be part of the party,” Bird said. “I mean, both Ian and Peter are extremely competent, multiply elected MLAs and they both held very important critic roles.” Under the Legislature’s rules, only two seats are needed to be an official party. That is how John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes, and Bruce Banman, MLA for Abbotsford South, rejuvenated the long-dormant Conservatives in 2023 by leaving BC United. The party then won 44 seats in the 2024 election, but the NDP retained power with 47. Almost two years later, the Conservatives are down to 32. Teresa Wat (Richmond-Bridgeport) and Brennan Day (Courtenay-Comox) both left caucus on Wednesday, Aug. 26. That means Bird and nine others have no official party status. The next election is not scheduled until 2028. Premier David Eby has denied he would call one sooner to take advantage of Conservative division. Findlay said her party intends to open nominations to fill Conservative vacancies in ridings such as Prince George-Valemount. “Our door is open to those who want to build, not tear down,” she said in a statement. What’s next for Bird? Could Bird join Milobar’s as-yet-unnamed new party or CentreBC, led by former Peace River BCU MLA Mike Bernier? She said she has not talked with Bernier and is waiting to learn more about Milobar’s plans. “I would assume anybody that sits as an independent in the Legislature would consider options that became available,” Bird said. “So I’m not saying I wouldn’t. I’m not saying I would.” Bird did not publicly support any of the five contestants who ran for the Conservative leadership. Milobar was the only caucus member in the race and finished fifth. Findlay narrowly defeated Caroline Elliott on May 30. Bird said she disagreed with Findlay’s hiring decisions, particularly the
appointment of chief of staff Chris Delaney. She had nothing “positive or negative” to say about Delaney, except that he was not the right person for the job. “(Findlay) was elected by the membership, she is the leader of the party,” Bird said. “She has the prerogative to hire and fire and surround herself with the people that she wants to. And so, I don’t have any issue with that. But it doesn’t mean I have to agree with her choices.” Another choice was what Bird called the “extreme” communications messaging, including a recent AI-generated social media video about the NDP’s role in stoking culture-war issues that depicted Eby as a military dictator. “Putting a picture like that out, I don’t think that’s necessary,” Bird said. “I think it’s counterintuitive, actually, and it’s definitely counterproductive. I believe the public would like their elected officials to be focused on how we are bettering our province and bettering the lives of British Columbians.” Not only is there caucus turmoil, but the party’s head office and board are also in flux. Executive director Angelo Isidorou left in late July and, last week, president Aisha Estey quit. “We rose out of literally the ashes, out of the shadows,” Bird said. “We built something very large in a very short period of time. There are always going to be mistakes when that happens. That’s part of a learning process and it’s part of building a larger machine.” Bird came into politics after 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, a strictly organized entity with rigid policies, procedures and chains of command. “That was my professional life previous to politics,” Bird said. “But I think those things are just as important inside, if not maybe even more important than they are with the forces. “A political party needs to be able to move together as a team, and if you have individuals within your team that don’t feel heard, don’t feel seen, don’t feel wanted, don’t feel part of that team, it’s going to cause disruptions.”
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Jiangmen twin-city deal on hold until next council COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
A decision over whether Prince George should continue discussing a sister-city agreement with Jiangmen, China was deferred to next February by city council at a Monday, Aug. 31 meeting. This means that the new council elected in October will be tasked with deciding if talks should proceed. The city and Jiangmen, a city of close to five million people near Hong Kong, have been in off-and-on talks over becoming sister cities since 2016, but no agreement was ever finalized. After several years of inactivity on the file, a delegation from Jiangmen including Mayor Wu Xiaohui visited PG in early May and then submitted a draft twinning agreement for consideration. Up for discussion on Aug. 31 was a motion to city administration to create an updated letter of intent. Starting the conversation, Mayor Simon Yu said that since the matter had been passed along between several administrations, he was hopeful that progress could be made ahead of local elections scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. Councillors Cori Ramsay and Kyle Sampson said they weren’t prepared to vote in favour of the motion at this time as it is still unclear what the city’s desired goals for this partnership would be, though they weren’t ruling out moving it forward at a later date. Coun. Trudy Klassen advocated in favour of approving a new letter of intent as it represented an advancement in the relationship with Jiangmen but didn’t commit Prince George to anything concrete at this time. Coun. Tim Bennett wanted to know what the city’s costs would be if this letter of intent was received, to which Yu and Frizzell said there would be none. Bennett also noted that the city is approaching an election and the new council could decide to change course. Yu said that most sister-city agreements contain clauses where either
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
party can terminate them with a few months’ notice. Frizzell argued that preparing a refreshed letter of intent that doesn’t tie the city to any obligations or spending would send a signal that Prince George and Canada are willing to reach out to explore friendship with other countries. Coun. Susan Scott asked what the implication of delaying the motion would be. Frizzell said a delay would mean that it could get pushed beyond the limit of this council’s term and that the new council could decide against proceeding. Scott said she didn’t have an issue with proceeding to that next step that night as long as the letter of intent could still be reviewed before being sent to Jiangmen. Frizzell said that if the letter of intent is defeated, then council still has to respond to Jiangmen’s originally proposed sister city-agreement. Coming back into the queue, Sampson said he felt more consultation would be prudent and that to proceed at this point would be putting the cart before the horse. He added that the delegation was sprung on Prince George on short notice and that isn’t the right way to pursue things. He moved to defer the discussion to February 2027 to have the next council discuss the matter, though he clarified that it wasn’t his intent to end consideration of the item entirely. The deferral was approved by a vote of five to three. Sampson then moved for the Jiangmen file to be included in the new council’s strategic planning session, which passed unanimously.
Vote summary Motion: Council defers discussion over directing administration to prepare an updated letter of intent relating to a future sister city-agreement with Jiangmen, China to its Feb. 22, 2027 meeting • In favour: Sampson, Polillo, Scott, Bennett, Ramsay • Against: Yu, Frizzell and Klassen Result: Approved 5 to 3, with Coun. Brian Skakun absent
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NEWS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
New salmon hatchery being built on banks of Nechako TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Dominic Frederick’s 30-year dream of establishing a Prince George fish hatchery to help salmon thrive in local rivers for generations to come is about to become a reality. The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation fisheries manager attended a ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 25, on the north shore of the Nechako River to announce the federal government’s $38-million investment in the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery. The hatchery, a joint venture between the Lheidli T’enneh and Canfor, is located near the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers and is focused on rebuilding BC’s depleted Chinook salmon populations. When it opens in spring 2028, the facility will have the capacity to raise 400,000 salmon fry annually, with room to expand to enhance other salmon species and return them to the river for their downstream journey on the Fraser to the Pacific. “To me it means more to the younger people who are going to be working here. It’s about the next generation,” said Frederick, whose efforts to establish Indigenous-led fisheries teams to enhance salmon revitalization and restore fish habitat date back to his time as Lheidli T’enneh chief, from 2004-19. “We need it just to replenish some of the stocks that have been depleted, and it’s going to be a good facility for learning for the university, for the schools and for other people and other nations to come and see what’s going on, to learn about the life cycle of the resource we value so much.” The Prince George hatchery will include an administration building, egg incubation rooms, laboratory space, interior and exterior fish tanks and a workshop. IDL Projects is building it on a site just east of Northern Lights Estate Winery. The facility will be owned and operated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and partially managed by the Lheidli T’enneh. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Ernie Klassen, parliamentary secretary for the minister of fisheries; Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson; Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan; Gitanyow First Nation Chief Harry Daniels and Gitanyow First Nation Hereditary Chief Luuxon gather on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
travelled to Prince George from her home in St. John’s, N.L., for Tuesday’s event. She said human intervention is needed to rebuild the province’s salmon stocks, which are threatened by rising stream and ocean temperatures and other environmental factors affecting watersheds. “Pacific salmon are under pressure, the climate is changing, the habitat is changing and salmon are facing new challenges in every stage of their cycle, and this highlights the importance of ongoing conservation and stewardship efforts,” said Thompson. “After decades of historic declines, there have been some encouraging signs of recovery among sockeye, Chinook and pink salmon populations in British Columbia, including the Fraser River. And while this is reason for some cautious optimism, it is not a reason to ease off. The work continues on habitat, hatchery and harvest measures, while at the same time integrating science, Indigenous knowledge and local expertise in the management of these fisheries.” Chief Dolleen Logan said she is thrilled the hatchery is being built in her nation’s territory for the benefit of all Canadians. “For Indigenous people, salmon are not simply a resource, they are our relatives, they are part of our culture, our identity, our laws, our responsibilities,” said Logan. “The health of the salmon
reflects the health of the land, the water and our communities. “For thousands of years Indigenous nations managed fisheries through stewardship practices rooted in observations, respect and balance. We understand that caring for salmon meant caring for the entire watershed. Our traditional knowledge teaches us that abundance comes from responsibility, not exploitation. Today those teachings are more important than ever.” Hatcheries give fish a strong start by increasing the chances of eggs surviving, but Logan said that does not guarantee healthy salmon runs. “Restoration of salmon habitat remains essential,” said Logan. “Salmon need healthy rivers, functioning floodplains, cool water, stable spawning grounds and resilient ecosystems, and that is why our work continues far beyond today’s announcement. “Lheidli T’enneh is actively enhancing habitat restoration throughout our territory. We also work to create opportunities that allow proponents and developers to contribute meaningful restoration efforts. It was a very proud moment when another local First Nation, Lhtako Dene, invited our fisheries team to go down there and train their nation on how to do it. We’re sharing knowledge and this is how we’re going to sustain our fish.” The four-phase project is expected
to create about 100 construction jobs. Operating the hatchery will require 10 to 15 full-time employees and several part-time workers. Steve Gotch, the BC/Yukon area director for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, described the fish hatchery as a maternity ward for fish. “We collect wild salmon from various areas in the Fraser River watershed and we’ll bring the eggs and milt (male reproductive fluid) to the facility and basically raise them in a safe environment with controls over the water temperature and the conditions they’re exposed to. We hold them for the least amount of time as possible,” said Gotch. “From a human intervention perspective, we want to maintain the wildness of these salmon. A hatchery facility is so effective because typically in the wild the survival to fry stage is upwards of 30 per cent. That’s due to storms that might occur while the eggs are incubating or some sort of habitat disruption or predation. In a hatchery facility, we can easily see upwards of 90 to 95 per cent survival.” Thompson announced two other BC hatchery projects Tuesday, one on the Chilcotin and the other in the Skeena watershed. The Tsilhqot’in National Government will operate a $7.5-million Chilcotin River Salmon Hatchery near Hanceville, 98 kilometres west of Williams Lake. Industra Construction will build the facility, which will have the capacity to raise 250,000 Chinook fry per year. The $7.5-million Wilkp’Ho Dix Hatchery on the Kitwanga River, 486 kilometres northwest of Prince George, will be built by Progressive Ventures Construction in partnership with the Gitanyow Nation. It will focus on improving sockeye salmon stocks and will be operated by Gitanyow people, with an initial capacity to raise 300,000 juvenile sockeye and room to expand to 400,000. The three projects, collectively valued at more than $53 million, are funded by the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative. The five-year program was launched in 2021 with a $647.1-million investment and extended in April for another five years with an additional $412.9 million.
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
OPINION
Lheidli T’enneh shows PG how to build the future KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor
Prince George should be paying attention to what Lheidli T’enneh First Nation is doing. Not just because of a recent string of successes, but because it’s a compelling example of what happens when a community embraces economic development, environmental stewardship and cultural preservation as complementary, rather than competing, goals. The Lheidli T’enneh are building for the future without turning its back on the past. Look at the Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery, a $38-million joint venture between the Lheidli T’enneh and Canfor. When it opens in 2028, the facility will have the capacity to raise up to 400,000 salmon fry annually and help rebuild depleted Chinook populations. The project combines Indigenous knowledge, scientific expertise, private-sector investment and federal support. It also reflects a longstanding commitment by the Lheidli T’enneh to restoring salmon and protecting the health of its territory. Chief Dolleen Logan makes it clear: salmon are not simply a resource. They are part of the Lheidli T’enneh’s culture, identity, laws and responsibilities. That understanding of stewardship is also evident at the Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre at Chun T’oh Whudujut. The centre is a place where culture,
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Dominic Frederick, fisheries manager for the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, talks about the new Upper Fraser River Salmon Conservation Hatchery on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
tourism and environmental education come together. Its design is inspired by traditional Dakelh pit house construction, while solar panels and a living roof demonstrate that honouring tradition does not require rejecting modern technology. More than 100 people showed up for the centre’s recent soft launch an hour east of PG. That matters. So does the success of a golf tournament hosted by Tano T’enneh Enterprises, the First Nation’s business arm. All 36 team spots sold quickly. About 140 golfers showed up to the PG Golf and Curling Club. Fifty sponsors supported the event. More than $100,000 was raised for Lheidli T’enneh youth programs. That’s more than a successful
fundraiser. It is evidence that the local business community is willing to invest in the Lheidli T’enneh’s future. Tano T’enneh, established in 2025, is clearly thinking much bigger than one golf tournament. It is pursuing opportunities in construction, resource development and Indigenous tourism while looking for ways for the Lheidli T’enneh to participate directly in the economic growth taking place across Northern BC. This is what economic reconciliation can look like in practice. It means building businesses, creating employment, developing partnerships and ensuring that Indigenous communities have a meaningful stake in the economic opportunities unfolding in their own territory. None of this is happening in isolation. The salmon hatchery is a partnership involving the Lheidli T’enneh, Canfor and the federal government. In fact, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson came to PG for its launch. The Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre was developed with BC Parks and supported by federal and provincial funding. Regional organizations and governments have also played roles. Those partnerships deserve recognition because they demonstrate something equally important: reconciliation is not a one-sided exercise. Governments, First Nations, businesses and communities can work together to create projects that benefit everyone.
For too long, stories about Indigenous communities have centred on deficits — what’s missing, what’s gone wrong and what needs to be fixed. The Lheidli T’enneh are offering a different example. Theirs is a story about capacity, investment, entrepreneurship, restoring ecosystems and creating opportunities for young people. It’s about welcoming visitors and sharing culture. And people are responding. The turnout at the Ancient Forest centre and the overwhelming response to the golf tournament make that clear. The Lheidli T’enneh are showing that tradition and progress are not opposites. Indigenous knowledge can strengthen modern environmental management. Cultural traditions can become the foundation for tourism. Economic development can support youth. And partnerships with governments and private industry can create opportunities that extend far beyond the boundaries of a First Nation. There’s a lesson here for the entire region. Embracing the future doesn’t mean discarding the past. In fact, understanding and respecting what’s gone before may be one of the best ways to build a stronger tomorrow for the generations that come after us. The Lheidli T’enneh is showing Prince George what that can look like. We should be watching — and, where appropriate, finding ways to be part of it.
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
OPINION
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Your postal code shouldn’t determine your health care ELI KLASNER Guest Columnist
I’ve heard the same comment several times over the past few months: “It’s a good thing you’re in Vancouver.” And no, nobody was talking about the sunny weather or World Cup soccer matches. Throughout the summer, I’ve become something of a frequent flyer in Vancouver’s health-care system, including an extended stay in the world-class cardiac intensive care unit at St. Paul’s Hospital. It has been an unsettling experience, but also an extraordinary reminder of what it means to find yourself in the right place, at the right time, with access to exactly the medical expertise you suddenly need. It has left me thinking about something I’d never seriously considered before: How much does your postal code determine the health care available to you? I’ve occasionally wondered whether, if my health eventually made my current professional workload unsustainable, returning to Prince George might make sense. Housing is considerably less expensive, I have close friends and loved ones there, and the immediacy of everything certainly makes daily life less complicated and stressful. The response from more than one person has been surprisingly blunt: “Don’t. You need to remain close to the cardiac care you’re receiving in Vancouver.” There’s a remarkable catch-22 buried in that advice. A serious medical condition can make proximity to specialized health care increasingly important while simultaneously making it harder to work enough to afford to live near it. My circumstances are hardly unique. Geography has always shaped access to health care in a country as large as Canada, and nowhere is that more obvious than in Northern BC. Prince George residents regularly travel long distances for treatment, while patients
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
The University Hospital of Northern BC — its main lobby is seen here — is building a new acute care tower, which has meant relocating some health services currently operating in an adjacent building to the former Bay store location nearby.
from smaller northern communities may travel hundreds of kilometres just to reach Prince George. Those journeys come with costs: flights, hotels, meals, time away from work and sometimes the expense of family members travelling too. For someone already dealing with the financial consequences of illness, geography becomes another complication. My own experience has therefore caused me to look rather differently at the nearly $1.6-billion redevelopment of the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia. The new acute-care tower will dramatically increase hospital capacity and expand services, including cardiac care. But the question that interests me most
isn’t how many beds will be created or operating rooms built. It’s what procedures Northern Health will eventually be able to provide in Prince George that currently require patients to leave the region. If more patients can receive advanced treatment in Prince George instead of Vancouver, the benefit is considerably larger than eliminating an airline ticket. It can mean remaining near family, staying in your own home, maintaining employment where possible and recovering within your own support network. Perhaps most importantly, it can mean not having to reorganize your life around the geographic hurdles that can come with being sick. That’s why we should look at this
investment as more than health-care infrastructure. It is also civic and economic infrastructure. We’re already getting a glimpse of that with the new Prince George Community Health Centre opening in the former Hudson’s Bay location at Parkwood Place. The relocation is connected to preparations for the new acute-care tower and brings a range of community health programs together outside the traditional hospital campus. There’s something fascinating about a former department store being repurposed for health care, but it also raises a larger question: What will a substantially expanded regional hospital and growing concentration of health services mean for Prince George? Major hospitals don’t operate in isolation. They attract specialists and their families. Patients arrive from across the region, often accompanied by family members who need somewhere to stay and eat. Medical education, research, businesses and services develop around major institutional anchors. For decades, Prince George’s economy has been defined largely by industries that extracted and processed Northern British Columbia’s natural resources. Those industries remain enormously important, but we’ve spent years talking about economic diversification and asking what the next generation of major employers and institutions will look like. Perhaps one of them is already being built. An expanded regional health-care centre creates highly skilled jobs, strengthens Prince George’s relationship with UNBC and medical education, and makes the city more attractive to professionals and families considering whether to move north. I was reminded of that during my discharge from intensive care. One of the young resident physicians involved in my care was from Prince George, training temporarily at St. Paul’s. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
OPINION EDITORIAL: Tragedies are not the time for online jokes and speculation Jennifer Lussier Well-written. Let’s hope there’s a lesson in this and some can do better. Prince George is a warm, friendly city full of generous people. May the family feel the caring and compassion of PG. Prince George positioned to supply workers for major projects and beyond D Goods I’m seeing a lot of engineering, contract management and project management opportunities with BC Hydro in PG. Hopefully, these positions do get filled by Prince George residents, helping demonstrate the value of expanding BC Hydro’s professional presence in Northern BC. Given that much of the province’s power
is generated in the region, it makes sense for that organization to continue building a strong, skilled workforce here. Prince George council to consider calling for public inquiry on forestry, wildfires Zangief The forest fires are largely a man-made problem. Softwood burns like crazy. That’s all tree planters plant. They spray to destroy deciduous trees and shrubs, which resist fire much more. They created a bunch of man-made tree plantations for money. They didn’t manage these plantations, which made
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them unhealthy, which in turn ushered in a smorgasbord for the mountain pine beetle. And in the early ’90s, the NDP stopped doing controlled burns to save the environment. Plus, some fires are started by people. Old-growth forests resist fire very well, what with the moss and shrubs, soggy rotten wood and forest floor. That’s why they are probably old growth. But for some reason, some people seem to think untouched forest is the culprit. Councillors want city to explore data centre development in Prince George
values and environmental taxation should be front and centre when considering putting in a data centre in or around PG. PGArcher I hope that the city not only adopts what is currently regarded as best practices but looks ahead at potential risks and their mitigation in the future. I doubt that current best practices are comprehensive enough to truly protect the City of Prince George and the residents’ best interests. Rocky Mountain Rangers preparing for Canada Army Run
J Lawrence
Mr Science
I hope the studies show the negative aspects of data centres, not just highlight the temporary jobs they bring during construction. High water usage, plummeting property
Recall in the ’80s when the PG Rocky Mountain Rangers were based out of the basement of Pine Centre Mall. Awesome fundraising! No. 1 in Canada! PG is full of many great citizens.
Young Vancouver physician says he’s returning to PG CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE His father is a GP in Prince George. I asked where he planned to practise when his training was complete. His answer was immediate: back in Prince George. But attracting — and keeping — professionals like him won’t be Northern Health’s responsibility alone. Cardiologists, nurses, physicians and researchers aren’t simply choosing a hospital; they’re choosing a community in which to build their lives. Strengthening the downtown civic core, expanding cultural and entertainment infrastructure and improving recreational amenities are part of the equation, too. If we’re going to build a more advanced hospital, we also need the kind of community that will attract the people who work
inside it. As the population ages, access to advanced health care may increasingly determine whether people are able — or willing — to remain in Prince George. That feels considerably less theoretical to me than it did a few months ago. We often talk about affordability as one of Prince George’s great competitive advantages. Compared with Vancouver, it unquestionably is. But affordable housing doesn’t solve everything if a serious diagnosis means regularly travelling hundreds of kilometres for treatment. Conversely, living near world-class health care isn’t much of an advantage if illness prevents you from earning enough money to afford the city surrounding it. I should know. I live in a Vancouver neighbourhood that ranks among the
most expensive in Canada on a persquare-foot basis, just a few blocks from the health-care facility I so badly needed over the past few months. And that, my friends, is health care by postal code. The enormous investment underway at UHNBC won’t eliminate geography. There will always be highly specialized procedures concentrated in major tertiary hospitals. But perhaps the more meaningful measure of this project’s success won’t simply be how many beds were added or how much money was spent. How many more Northerners will receive the care they need without leaving the North? How many families will remain together while someone is sick? How many people will be able to continue living in the community they
chose because the medical care they need is available close enough to home? Those aren’t merely health-care questions. They’re questions about economic development, population retention and what makes a community genuinely sustainable. A few months navigating the healthcare system as a cardiac patient have made me understand Prince George’s largest health-care investment rather differently. Maybe one of the most important things a great regional hospital can give a community isn’t simply better health care. It’s the ability to keep calling that community home. Eli Klasner writes about community development, civic infrastructure, and the role of culture in building strong communities.
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
City meets, passes housing targets
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The City of Prince George exceeded its goal of 302 housing units by 77 net new units in the second year since the provincial government started issuing mandatory targets, stated a report from city staff presented to city council at its Monday, Aug. 31 meeting. In 2024, the province set a five-year goal of 1,803 net new housing units between Aug. 1 of that year and July 31, 2029. In the first year of that period, Prince George was required to have 273 units come online by July 31, 2025 and ended up with a net increase of 284. The city’s second-year target for the period ending July 31, 2026 was 302. The report at the Aug. 31 meeting said that 399 units came online during the second year, but another 20 were demolished for a net increase of 379 — about 25.5 per cent higher than the province required. Breaking down the total, the 399 units included 296 rental units and 103 owner-occupied units. There were 54 studio units, 81 one-bedroom units, 154 two-bedroom units, 82 three-bedroom units and 29 units with four or more bedrooms. Of the rental units, 254 charged market-value rent and 42 offered below-market rent to their occupants. Staff added that during the second year, there were also building permits issued for 411 units that are not ready for occupancy, development permits that could lead to 192 new units and zoning amendment applications that could lead to another 628 units. That could mean that 1,231 new housing units are in the works. If all of those units are realized and combined with the 663 net new housing units from the first two years, it would mean the city would have 1,894 units by the end of the five-year target period. Also noted by staff was that supportive housing developments are not counted towards the housing target “as they were previously deemed unsuitable for long-term tenure by the Housing Target Branch.” During the meeting, Coun. Cori Ramsay said that though council can help facilitate construction of units through their actions, ultimately construction is up to developers and this is something that municipalities have been pointing out to the province. Council voted unanimously to confirm with the province that Prince George had exceeded its target and send a copy of staff’s report as well. City manager Walter Babicz said administration is keeping track of the city’s vacancy rate to see if Prince George will be eligible to apply for an exemption to the province’s short-term rental ban.
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To learn more, visit cnib.ca/mobilehub or call 1-800-563-2642
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
NEWS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Mayoral candidate Olson makes it six in race for top job It’s the 25-year-old’s first run for public office COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The youngest candidate to enter Prince George’s mayoral race thus far says he’s an optimist looking to get a handle on longstanding issues that have forced businesses to close and drive people out of town. Zachariah Olson, 25, who works at Great White Toys Comics and Games (owned by Citizen owner and publisher Cameron Stolz) as an events manager, said in a Monday, Aug. 31 interview with The Citizen he felt there’s been a lack of action over the last four years and came to the conclusion that if he wants change, he should pursue it himself instead of leaving it up to someone else. “I feel that crime has gone out of hand in PG,” Olson said. “Not only in downtown, but places like the Hart or College Heights.” He said the RCMP’s response times to incidents have been too slow and the Mounties don’t have enough officers to cover the entire city. While the City of Prince George’s contract with the RCMP is for 157 members, there are typically only 125 to 130 members in the city at a time. This past January, local officer-in-charge Supt. Darin Rappel told council that the recent recruitment situation was the worst he’d seen. To address recruitment challenges, Olson said the city and RCMP should offer more incentives when looking to hire new officers as well as putting in more work to advertise the need for new officers. On top of that, Olson said Prince George should also look to establish a municipal police force under its auspices. This would be worth any potential extra costs, he said, because the RCMP seem a bit distant from the community and a local force would improve communication between the city and officers. He spoke in favour of the city fulfilling
CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
City of Prince George mayoral candidate Zachariah Olson stands outside the Prince George Citizen’s offices at 505 Fourth Ave. on Monday, Aug. 31.
a funding request from Downtown Prince George to fund and expand its security camera pilot project and said council needs to advocate harder to the province to bring in addictions treatment services. Both lowering and raising property taxes could have adverse effects and council should instead look to find savings and spend money more wisely to keep taxes at current levels. He identified Tourism Prince George as something that could be cut to find savings. “Prince George just isn’t at that point where we are a tourist city,” Olson said. “We’re a city of industry, we’re a city that has good jobs. It has pretty good cost for rent and stuff like that … and I think we should focus a lot on that.” Tourism Prince George is mostly funded through Municipal and District Taxes levied on hotel says. Olson said those funds should instead be directed
to operational and capital spending. In the next few years, council will be tasked with deciding if and how the Civic Core District will be developed, which could include a replacement for Kopar Memorial Arena and a new performing arts centre. Olson said that instead of pursuing that project, the city should instead provide funding to private property owners so they can fix old wiring and make other improvements that will make downtown buildings less fire prone. The city, he said, should spend money to renovate older and vacant buildings. He also said Prince George should help pay for the rebuilding of Nelly’s Pub on the Hart Highway, which was ravaged by fire in late April. BC’s Community Charter prohibits councils from providing “a grant, benefit, advantage or other form of assistance to a business” except for
historical and heritage conservations purposes. Olson said that the city should see how far it can go in helping businesses without violating those rules. On economic development, Olson said the city needs to show people that it is truly BC’s northern capital and showcase its appeal so that investment comes in. The University of Northern BC and the College of New Caledonia, he said, should be partnered with to help provide job infrastructure to workers like graphic designers and attract companies like Marvel Studios into putting a presence in Prince George. As the campaign season continues to ramp up, Olson said he would go door knocking, print brochures and attend all-candidates forums. He said he’ll also be running a Facebook account under his name. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Okechukwu focusing on economy for council run TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
For seven years, since his graduation as a master’s student from UNBC, Anthony Okechukwu has been focused on finding ways to make it easier for entrepreneurs in north-central BC to build thriving businesses. Now, given the chance to shape municipal politics and convince people that Prince George is the right place to do business, he’s decided to run for city council. “As a young person in business, there’s really not much opportunity for young people in the city here, there are lots of folks struggling in terms of entrepreneurship and not really having much support towards what they intend to do,” said Okechukwu. “You see them operating Okechukwu from their basement and they need to come out and be part and parcel of the economic activity in the city.” As difficult as it is to attract new businesses to the city and broaden the tax base, Okechukwu says the city needs to focus on how to retain the businesses it already has and that starts with having a police force that can guarantee public safety for those businesses and their customers. He said city council needs to engage in more discussions with business owners and visit other cities to learn what they are doing to address crime and vagrancy issues that extend beyond the downtown core. “If we need to engage as a city with the province, with Canada, for more support and more RCMP on the ground, why aren’t we talking to the province, why aren’t we talking to the federal (government) and let them know the needs of the city,” he said. “More needs
NEWS
to be done to protect these people.” A native of Abuja, Nigeria, Okechukwu came to Prince George in 2017 and spent two years at UNBC completing master’s studies in developmental economics. Hired in 2019 by the Cariboo Regional District as regional economic/community development officer, he held a similar role with the McLeod Lake Indian Band until 2023, when he became the Indigenous regulatory lead for TransCanada Energy, working on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Line. He also served as executive director of the Yekooche First Nation before he returned to the McLeod Lake Band in May 2025 as its business development director. Okechukwu wants more transparency in city hall and says councillors and city staff should have to defend their spending decisions and stop relying on incremental tax rate increases every year to bail them out when surpluses are spent. If a project goes over budget, he says, it’s up to council to explain to city residents why. “Taxpayers’ money is not well-managed, “ he said. “If people are paying taxes in Prince George there should be accountability for that money. Because there’s misappropriation or mismanagement of funds, that’s why we’re not having a surplus in the city budget. “Take a look at the swimming pool opposite CN Centre. For months that project is ongoing and nobody can speak right now about the status of that project, when it’s going to be finished, which contractor is managing it.” If elected, one of his priorities is to tackle seniors’ housing affordability. He says it’s time to help people who have paid taxes all their lives and have contributed to making Prince George a better place to live and now find their pension cheques don’t cover living expenses. “The city needs to (allocate) more budget for seniors in Prince George and see how the city could support more building for seniors and help to subsidize the rate seniors pay for housing. Nobody is talking about that.”
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
UNTIL DECEMEBER 31ST
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
NEWS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Steidle launches campaign for seat on PG city council MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Local forestry advocate James Steidle is getting ready for another run at Prince George city council this year after previously running in 2022. Steidle, the owner of Steidle Woodworking, is also the founder of Stop the Spray BC, an environmental advocacy organization that aims to end the aerial spraying of herbicides. He said that after returning to Prince George in 2017 following work and studies in Vancouver and Victoria, he was disappointed by rising taxes and what he saw as improper development — something he continues to see today. “I saw a lot of irresponsible development and things started to bug me about the way the city was being run. That was one of the reasons why I threw my hat in the ring back in 2022, and so here we are again in 2026,” said Steidle. Steidle views the city as currently undergoing an identity crisis, with an increasing focus on the civic core while
Council cheers for Special Olympians Athletes who participated in the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alta. show their medals to Prince George city council during a meeting on Monday, Aug. 31. Wearing yellow shirts and accompanied by volunteers, coaches and loved ones, council congratulated the athletes and took a photo to commemorate their achievements. Fourteen local athletes travelled to the tournament, held from Aug. 11 to 15, to compete in swimming, golf, track and field, 10-pin bowling, basketball, and rhythmic gymnastics, bringing home 34 medals. CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK
ignoring what he describes as constantly rising taxes, a steadily declining forestry industry and crumbling infrastructure. He believes the forestry industry can, in part, be renewed through increased local mill ownership and production, something he noted drove the Prince George economy in the 1970s. Steidle He also strongly advocates for a community forest, which he believes could improve forestry prospects for the city while increasing local access to lumber and creating jobs. “The economy back then was owned by the people that live here,” he said. “That is a vision in history that I think we can get back. Victoria’s not gonna let us get that back. We have to get that back ourselves, and one of the concrete ways we can do that is a community
forest.” Steidle cited the community forest’s removal in 2014 as an example of how he believes the city is mishandling its approach to development. “Our leadership culture in this town believes in this neo-liberal idea that the big corporations are gonna solve all of our problems, and the city should just do basic service delivery. I think as a city, we need to re-examine our whole philosophy on governance,” said Steidle. Steidle has been a strong advocate against tearing down Kopar Memorial Arena and aims to keep buildings such as Kopar intact if elected. He emphasized that, with taxes rising nearly 27 per cent since 2022, a focus on a new $80-million-to-$100-million arena seems counterproductive. “We need to take another look at the downtown civic core plan, and the reality of the other issues that need to be paid for. We’ve got the old sewage plant that needs to be replaced or upgraded, and here we are talking about tearing down a perfectly good building to build a new ice arena,” he said.
Other priorities for Steidle if elected include: • Protecting Ginters Green • Arts development • Beautification and improvement of downtown • Indigenous involvement in arts and business • Increasing food security and self-sufficiency • Reducing city sprawl • New regional revenue-sharing and governance agreements He added that he currently sees a lot of dysfunction on the sitting city council and assured potential voters that he would strive to co-operate with his fellow councillors if elected. Above all, Steidle says the community of Prince George is one of the key reasons he is running. “Prince George, I’d argue it’s the best place in the world,” said Steidle. “It’s God’s country. The people that live here are amazing. The people look out for you; people say hi to you on the streets. There’s just an awesome community of people in this town.”
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Judge orders Black Clover Cash, drugs, weapons seized co-owner to open the books One of the downtown business’s owner wants to see the 2019-2024 financials BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
One of the owners of Prince George’s Black Clover Pub acted in an oppressive and unfair manner toward the other, according to a BC Supreme Court judge on Aug. 25. Chris Alexander Angus filed a petition to the court in January 2025 naming Troy McKenzie, three other individuals and four companies: 1034857 B.C. Ltd., Doc Country Ventures Ltd., TCAM Enterprises Ltd. and the Black Clover Pub Inc. Angus sought a court-appointed auditor to examine 2019 to 2024 financial statements and a declaration that McKenzie exercised his power as a director of the four companies in an oppressive or unfairly prejudicial manner toward him. Justice Sheila Tucker ordered the companies to not dispose of any assets until further order of the court and required McKenzie and each of the companies to provide a complete accounting of all payments or transfers of money from, to or between any of them, since Sept. 3, 2019. “The present circumstances effectively prevent Mr. Angus from seeking an informed remedy in terms of any repayment required to be made to the corporation, or with respect to the value of his shares for purposes of a buyout,” Tucker said. “The remaining remedial relief sought, along with the question of cost, is adjourned to be addressed by further application.” The three others, Martin Duffy, Franca Letendre-Petrucci and Lyman Miller, became shareholders of the Black Clover and beneficial shareholders in
1034857 BC Ltd. through an investment arrangement. When Duffy and Letendre-Petrucci responded to Angus’s petition in August 2025, their court filing said Angus and McKenzie owned the Twisted Cork in 2015. It was operated through Doc Country and the property owned through TCAM. The neighbouring property was put up for sale in the same year and they opened it in 2016 under the name the Black Clover. The filing said Letendre-Petrucci knew McKenzie since meeting in 2007 at the University of Northern B.C., while Duffy knew McKenzie since 1985 at Brentwood College. McKenzie proposed that Duffy and Letendre-Petrucci invest in the new venture. Angus approached a third person, Miller. Angus and McKenzie had 33.75 per cent of the shares each, Duffy 12.5 per cent and Letendre-Petrucci and Miller 10 per cent each, after investing $125,000 and $100,000, respectively. Unbeknownst to the minority shareholders, a separate numbered company was incorporated to operate the pub, 1049758 BC Ltd., and immediately renamed The Black Clover Pub Inc. (BCP). Tucker said the records of the corporations never reflected such shareholding, but the asserted interest of the three was bought out last December after the numbered company and TCAM sold the property they owned. Those funds were used to liquidate BCP and DCV debts. Also in December, Duffy and Letendre-Petrucci reached a settlement out of court. “Mr. Angus did not participate in the buyout of these asserted interests, and his own shareholdings in the respondent corporations have always remained constant and consistent with the interests actually shown in the corporate register,” Tucker said.
RCMP PHOTO
Prince George RCMP officers seized about $29,000 in cash along with drugs, weapons and ammo during the Aug. 24 search of a residence in the 6200 block of Monterey Road. Police said officers found two unknown substances believed to be illicit drugs inside the home, along with the cash, firearms, ammunition and drug paraphernalia. One person was arrested.
1685 3rd Ave. Prince George, BC
250-563-6637 www.booksandcompany.ca
Breaking News:
Despite demands that we change our name to American Books and Company we will still be selling Canadian Books
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
NEWS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Killer serving life in prison returns to court over curfew BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A 26-year-old Prince George man sentenced last February to life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend was sentenced in Provincial Court on Aug. 21 to another two months for breaching a judge’s curfew order on the morning of the murder. On July 18, 2023, Zain Xavier Wood left his residence before 7 a.m. and arrived at the Alpine Village townhouse of Isabelle Opal Rose Spirit Thomas. Wearing gloves, a mask and a hood, he entered Thomas’s home, went upstairs and stabbed the 22-year-old mother to death. Appearing by video from Kent Institution, a federal maximum-security prison in Agassiz, Wood pleaded guilty to being at large and failing to comply with a judge’s order without lawful excuse.
Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall told Judge Judith Doulis that Wood’s breach stemmed from a Dec. 2, 2022, charge of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose following a Nov. 11, 2022, incident in Prince George. Wood has since pleaded guilty to those charges. Judge Darin Reeves released Wood on an order that included an electronically monitored curfew. Wood disobeyed the order and proceeded to commit first-degree murder. “He did not attend a hospital or a medical clinic, and in fact, what he was up to is very well-known,” Withall said. On July 19, 2023, Withall said police contacted the BC Corrections Central Monitoring Unit and learned that Wood had left his new residence the previous day. Withall called the two-month sentence “fit and appropriate” for the breach, but
said it “does not really change the fact that he’s serving a life sentence.” Nonetheless, the sentence is added to his record and could be considered by a judge if he seeks a sentence reduction after 15 years under the so-called faint hope clause, or when he reaches the 25-year mark and makes an application to the Parole Board of Canada. Harmeet Doad, an articling student appearing on behalf of defence lawyer Tony Lagemaat, told Doulis that Wood has struggled over the years with marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. He is taking medication to treat psychosis and paranoia. “Lastly, Mr. Wood has asked me to express his remorse for his action,” Doad said. Wood, who appeared on screen wearing a blue T-shirt, declined to say anything when asked by Doulis. BC Supreme Court Justice Michael
Tammen sentenced Wood on Feb. 13 to life in prison without parole eligibility for 25 years. Tammen called the killing “extremely aggravated, even within the confines of first-degree murder.” Not only did Wood kill an innocent Indigenous woman in the sanctity of her home, but he did so in the presence of her daughter, who witnessed her mother’s death. Wood and Thomas had been in an intimate relationship for several months in 2019 before breaking up that year. They maintained a casual relationship into the summer of 2023. Wood testified in court that he went to Alpine Village twice to scope out the property with the intent of stealing Thomas’s PlayStation 4 video game console. He claimed he wanted to sell it to pay a legal bill. Tammen called Wood’s testimony a “web of lies.”
Another five months in jail for woman guilty of B&E BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A five-month jail sentence followed by a year on probation was ordered for a 28-year-old woman who broke into a Prince George home and stole $4,000 worth of goods on Jan. 29. Trenal Marian-Marie Alexis pleaded guilty in Provincial Court on Aug. 26. Associate Chief Judge Paul Dohm heard that residents near Diefenbaker Park reported a break and enter to Prince George RCMP around 6:30 a.m. Dohm officially sentenced Alexis to one year in jail, but she had 215 days credit under the time-and-a-half rule, reducing her remaining time in jail to 150 days. “As her counsel has pointed out, it was a really very unsophisticated type of crime, more spontaneous where she was under the influence of alcohol and just entered a home to see what was there, and then took various items,” Dohm said. Alexis, who is Indigenous, has a
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
A woman will spend time behind bars after a homeowner woke up to find $4,000 worth of items missing from his home.
seven-page conviction list, including six prior assaults, five mischief and break and enter. “Miss Alexis has no good explanation for her state of impairment at the time,” said defence lawyer Connor Carleton.
The resident awoke to hear the refrigerator door opening. He got up and found it partially open and noticed a broken window and several items missing: a school bag containing a wallet and a laptop, a gym bag, two
pairs of AirPods, which were valued at approximately $800, regular AirPods valued at $240, a pair of shoes valued at approximately $180 to $200, and a wallet valued at approximately $400 to $500. The total estimated value of the stolen items was $4,000. Surveillance footage showed a woman entering the house. Another officer at the detachment recognized Alexis from prior interactions. The resident also found an unauthorized Yellow Taxi charge on his credit card account. An officer contacted the company and confirmed Alexis had used her app to request a taxi. An officer called the Active Support Against Poverty Shelter where staff confirmed Alexis was located. Police arrested her and recovered stolen items including the AirPods, a MacBook laptop, Scotiabank and Capital One credit cards, firearms possession and acquisition and driver’s licences belonging to the residents, two pairs of socks, wallets and a purse.
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Airport carjacker indicates he may want to change plea BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On the second anniversary of the Prince George Airport carjacking, there’s uncertainty about the next step in the BC Supreme Court case. During a scheduling hearing in Prince George on Aug. 24, Justice Jennifer Duncan adjourned the case to Sept. 8 so that Tanner Jordan Meier’s new defence lawyer, Bobby Movassaghi, can review a transcript of the Oct. 27, 2025 hearing where Meier pleaded guilty. “He wanted transcripts of the entering of the guilty plea to confirm that Mr. Meier was aware that the Crown was proceeding with (a long-term offender application) and had indicated that he would be applying or potentially applying to withdraw a guilty plea,” Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall told Duncan. Meier pleaded guilty to charges of
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Tanner Jordan Meier pleaded guilty to charges of robbery, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and assault related to the
Aug. 24, 2024, theft of a car at YXS.
robbery, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and assault related to the Aug. 24, 2024, theft of a car at YXS. Withall told the court after Meier’s guilty plea that he wanted the man assessed for a potential application to have him declared a long-term offender. Such a designation would mean jail for a minimum two years and a supervision order of up to 10 years. Meier told the court in July that he
Mackenzie second-degree murder trial set to start in October BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The man accused of a second-degree murder in Mackenzie in fall 2024 is scheduled to go on trial in October 2027. But the start of Drake Matthew Kerr’s 19-day trial in B.C. Supreme Court is to be confirmed after confusion during a hearing on Aug. 24 in Prince George. “Supreme Court scheduling says Oct. 4, counsels say Oct. 11,” said Justice Jennifer Duncan. “You’ll have to get hold of scheduling to sort that out.” “Yes, I have very clear written instructions that say Oct. 11,” replied Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall. “So I’d ask that this adjourn over one week. We’ll sort that out. Counsel and the court seem to be off by a week.” Withall also said he received an email
from the assigned prosecutor, Robert Climie, that said “due to start Oct. 11.” The Thanksgiving holiday in 2027 is scheduled for Oct. 11. Duncan adjourned the matter to Aug. 31. RCMP officers responded to a shots fired call and found a man’s body at a residence on Sept. 29, 2024. Kerr was at-large after the incident, but was arrested on a warrant and made his first court appearance on Oct. 5, 2024. Next June, Justice Ronald Tindale is scheduled to preside over a four-day voir dire — a pretrial hearing to determine admissibility of evidence. Kerr was denied bail last October when his defence lawyer was Jason LeBlond. Kerr retained Kamloops-based lawyers Jeremy Jensen and Jay Michi after LeBlond was named a Provincial Court judge on June 12.
found Movassaghi after the Law Society of BC suspended his previous defence lawyer, Kenneth Thomson, in January. Thomson told The Citizen that he lost his bookkeeper and was therefore unable to complete his annual trust report on time. “I don’t know the order of things, whether there’s going to be an application to withdraw a guilty plea. However, my reading of the transcript, I think that
would be difficult,” Withall said. If Meier’s plea is not changed, the Crown wants to fix a date for Meier’s assessment. Duncan said she was concerned about the delay, but understood the reason. “I just don’t want Mr. Meier to be bumping along without anything happening and I didn’t want to put it over for three weeks,” Duncan said.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
BUSINESS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Chamber names finalists for Business Excellence Awards MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for the 41st annual Business Excellence Awards and the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards. The finalists were named Friday, Aug. 28 at Canada Games Plaza during the final Foodie Friday of the summer. The chamber also announced the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the event: the Community Arts Council of Prince George and District, and Anne Laughlin and Ted Price, founders of Miracle Theatre. The Community Arts Council, which makes its home at Studio 2880, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for its consistent support of local artists and artisans since it was established in 1876. The arts council serves as an umbrella organization for more than 250 artists, performers, artisan guilds and cultural organizations. The operators of Miracle Theatre were given the award for their dedication to local fundraising through their Miracle Theatre productions, which have collectively raised more than $1 million for various causes throughout the North since the theatre was established in 2015. “We were surprised and you know what? It helps our efforts,” said Price. “Just getting the word out there of what we’re doing, and it’s always good in terms of audience development. We’re pleased on many fronts.” He added that the amount of funds they have raised is a sign of the supportive and heartfelt community they live in. “A lot of it has to do with the nature of Prince George and just the community. There are so many people that are generous and supportive, and when we try to raise these funds, they step forward and buy tickets, make donations, sponsor the productions,” said Price. “The credit goes to more than just our efforts. It’s the community we’re in.” The recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and the award winners will be onstage Oct. 3 during the Business
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
Neil Godbout, left, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, congratulates Ted Price and Anne Laughlin of Miracle Theatre.
Excellence Awards dinner gala at the Civic Centre. “The judges had a really tough time,” said Neil Godbout, the chamber’s executive director. “I would not have actually wanted to be one of the judges. There were several categories that were decided by fractions of a percentage point. It was very close. Judges had to do a lot of hard work, and I’m just so proud of the finalists for all of their amazing work.” Godbout said the awards are especially important this year. “I think it’s always important that we celebrate excellence in our business community, especially right now with so much uncertainty in the business community with everything going on,” said Godbout. “I think now more than ever it’s really important to celebrate our local businesses and their accomplishments.” Scott Broughton, president and CEO of Vitreo Minerals and one of the finalists for the Business Person of the Year Award, spoke to The Citizen about what it was like to be nominated. “I’m quite surprised and really happy,” said Broughton. “I moved to Prince George last November and have been active in the move and active in the business, and it’s great recognition.” Vitreo Minerals is currently in the final permitting process to open a silica mine 60 kilometres north of Prince George near Bear Lake. Broughton said the mine will bring $300 million to the community alongside 300 jobs. He added that it feels amazing to see regeneration in a community they plan to grow in.
“It’s a reward for putting in lots of work and trying to make sure that there was recognition for us as a company and that the things we were doing were being well supported, and that’s a great feeling,” said Broughton. The gala dinner will feature keynote speaker Taylor McPherson, an Amazing Race Canada winner, national U Sports wrestling champion and two-time Team Canada athlete.
Finalists Excellence in Environmental Impact • David Douglas Botanical Garden Society • Wall to Wall Renovate, Recycle, Restore • Open Waters Solar • Goodsir Nature Park • Nest and Sprout Excellence in Customer Service • Rivers Edge Services • Birchwood Veterinary Clinic • Volare Medical • Bandstra Transportation Systems • Blackwood Gifts Excellence in Not-for-Profit and Community Service • Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC • Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society • Rotary Club of Downtown Prince George • Association of Caledonia Trailbuilders • Prince George Humane Society Excellence in Technological
Innovation • Honey Skin Rejuvenation • Open Waters Solar • EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc. • Northern IT Solutions • Tim Joyce, Nooma Logic Micro Business of the Year • Blackwood Gifts • Bolfred Consulting Services • Fades by Arman • Flex Therapeutics • Auntie Clockwise BIPOC Business of the Year • Lemon Nails and Beauty • Bolfred Consulting Services • Comfort Keepers Prince George • Jani-King of Northern British Columbia • Inner City Boxing PG Excellence in Promotion and Marketing • Mackenzie Kerr Consulting • Tim Joyce, Nooma Logic • 6ix Sigma Productions • Busy Boss Communications • Monogram Communications Excellence in Food and Beverage • Crossroads Tap and Kitchen • Baller Food • Northern Lights Winery • The Dudley • Cheeseneeds Excellence in Entertainment and Attractions • Downtown Prince George • Studio 2880 • PGAHA/BCNE • The Exploration Place • Kiwanis Alefest Business Person of the Year Award • Vince Prince, Aboriginal Business Development Centre • Deanna Hodgins, VeltroTec Innovations • Aimee Cassie, Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation • Cindy Hartford, Pacific Western Brewing • Scott Broughton, Vitreo Minerals Business of the Year Award • McDonald’s — PBR Enterprises Ltd. • Tyrod Industries • Kopar Administration • 4 Rivers Co-operative • Open Door Cafe
REGIONAL
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
Jennifer Pighin (right) and Kym Gouchie (left) play alongside their fellow Khast’an Drummers on Thursday, Aug 27, 2026, in Prince George.
Visitors tour new Ancient Forest interpretive centre MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Lheidli T’enneh First Nation welcomed members of the community to celebrate the special soft launch of the Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre on Thursday, Aug. 27. More than 100 members of the public travelled to the site east of Prince George to take part in the event, which included Chief Dolleen Logan and councillors, elders, Lheidli T’enneh staff, members of Prince George council and representatives of BC Parks and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. The Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre sits at the entrance to Ancient Forest Provincial Park, which is known as Chun T’oh Whudujut in Dakelh. The park, located a little more than an hour east of Prince George on Highway 16, is one of the world’s only inland temperate rainforests. During the celebrations, those attending the launch witnessed a rare water-brushing ceremony that was also taught to younger members of Lheidli T’enneh. They heard speeches from Lheidli T’enneh members and partner organizations, as well as songs of celebration sung by the Khast’an Drummers.
Elders from Lheidli T’enneh also lit the first fire in the fire pit in the central space of the Interpretive Centre, an area planned to be used as a cultural space once the centre opens. The centre currently houses a central cultural space, including the previously mentioned central fire pit, Lheidli T’enneh artifacts, a kitchen and a fire pit outside the main entrance. The roof has foliage growing on top and is lined with solar panels. The building’s appearance is inspired by traditional Dakelh pit house design and is heavily rooted in the cultural traditions of the Lheidli T’enneh. “It’s fantastic, and it’s been a long time in coming,” said lead architect Scott Kemp. “When we started on the project in 2017-18, I met with the community. I had a roll of tracing paper and pens, met with the elders, and they talked about the building. Then I drew as they described it. What we drew is basically what you see today. That’s where the inspiration came from. It’s their building, and it’s their inspiration and storytelling that created what we see today.” Logan added that the natural world was also a major source of inspiration for the building. CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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New centre is expected to formally open in May 2027 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 “We wanted it to look outdoors inside and bring the rainforest in. This is our interpretation of what probably would have been here thousands of years ago, somewhere in the territory,” she explained. The building will continue to receive additions and improvements after the soft launch as it prepares for the grand opening in 2027. These include space for a gift shop and coffee shop, rooms to rent overnight, nearby camping spaces and more. “This is a soft launch, and the word ‘soft’ is doing some work here,” said Zawad Abedin, director of engineering and operations at Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and project lead for the Interpretive Centre. “We are not finished. Across the highway, there is more to complete: a new trail, a sweat lodge and a pit house that will round out the cultural teaching space on this land. We are also exploring the potential for a camping facility so people can stay with this forest instead of just passing through it.” The Interpretive Centre anticipates opening its doors to the public in May 2027, at the start of the tourism season. Logan, in an interview with The Citizen, said she was surprised and happy with the turnout. “I didn’t realize there were going to be so many people out here,” she said. “It’s exciting because we’re all in the community. We’re all in this together. We’re all taking pride in our Northern British Columbia.” One of the key aspects of the design is the series of wood pillars lining the front of the centre. Members of Lheidli T’enneh participated heavily in harvesting, preparing and transporting the timber used for the pillars. They coordinated milling and treatment through Carrier Lumber and the materials were transported by LTN Contracting Ltd. Altogether, community members contributed approximately 1,800 hours of labour to the project. “I’m proud of what this building says without a word being spoken,” said
CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER
The Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre sits under a blue sky on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Abedin. “This is a building designed to sit lightly in a forest that has stood for thousands of years. A fire at its centre for healing and land-based learning. A living roof above it. A facility that draws its power from the sun. Every one of those choices came from the same place: Lheidli T’enneh stewardship, carried into the design and the engineering.” During her remarks, Logan noted that the trees used for the pillars were also used as a teaching tool. Younger members were taught how to peel and prepare the trees before they were used in construction. “Knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, and for them, what they’ve learned here, they will pass it on to their next generations,” said Logan. “It’s important now for these kids to come and say, ‘Yeah, I took part in that. I helped build that.’ I was thinking on my way out here with my grandson Wiley. One day he’s going to be a grandfather and bring his kids out here, and he’s going to say, ‘I remember being here with Nana when they first opened this building.’” For Jennifer Pighin, a Lheidli T’enneh artist and knowledge holder who led the previously mentioned water-brushing ceremony, passing down knowledge and traditions and allowing youth to participate in cultural ceremonies was incredibly important. “It was a really beautiful ceremony to participate in or to have occur at the space,” she said. “The water-brushing ceremony is something that I was taught by the late Edie Frederick, who received that from her mother, the late Josephine Paul. Edie’s passion for education and youth was really strong. “She was always teaching youth how
to speak the language but also how to live a Dakelh way. When I was asked to help do the blessing, they also asked if we could bring some youth into it. It was a really great opportunity to teach some of the youth who were present here today about the ceremony, what it means, how to conduct it, how to be very centred and put your intentions into the blessing for this space.” Pighin also commented on the significance of performing the specific blessing at the Ancient Forest. “I gave them each an opportunity to practise the water brushing, which is local to this region. It’s nice to bring back that practice at the Ancient Forest specifically. It’s about the water and the beauty of the land and the trees here, so it’s great to bring that all together. It felt so right.” Logan also noted that approximately 70,000 international visitors come to Ancient Forest Provincial Park each year. “It’s pretty powerful to know that this has gone worldwide,” said Logan. “Now with this interpretive centre here, if we get 70,000-plus coming to see the Ancient Forest next year, they’re going to know who Lheidli T’enneh is. One thing I’ve always said from the very beginning is to take five minutes to learn about your local First Nations, and now they’re going to have no choice when they come here.” The Ancient Forest Interpretive Centre was created in partnership with BC Parks and the federal and provincial governments. “The Government of Canada is honoured to have supported the Lheidli T’enneh in bringing this important project to life. The federal investment supported new recreation facilities and
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amenities in Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, including hiking trails, an Interpretive Centre, a sweat lodge, pit house and gazebo, as well as improved accessible amenities,” said Gregor Robertson, minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “This project recognizes the deep cultural significance of Chun T’oh Whudujut and supports the Lheidli T’enneh in sharing their culture, knowledge and connection to the land with visitors and future generations.” The project’s construction was supported through more than $7.8 million in combined federal and provincial funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Community, Culture and Recreation stream. This included more than $6.5 million from the Government of Canada and more than $1.3 million from the Province of British Columbia. Lheidli T’enneh First Nation also made substantial investments in the project, including an estimated $870,000 toward construction and more than $400,000 in staffing, administration, community engagement, project management and other costs. During her remarks to attendees, Logan thanked government and regional partners for getting the centre to where it is today. “Projects like this can’t look straightforward when you see the finished building. What you don’t see are the years of planning, the funding applications, the design work, the construction, the meetings, the approvals, the problem-solving and people continually pushing the project forward,” she said. “That is why today is an opportunity to say thank you. We sincerely thank the Government of Canada and the provincial government for their support and investment in making this vision possible. These partnerships demonstrate what can happen when governments invest alongside First Nations in projects that protect important places while creating cultural, tourism and economic opportunities.”
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
COMMUNITY
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
What’s happening in PG Sweater Weather Market goes Saturday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CN Centre. This is an outdoor fall market that will see about 100 vendors at the event. This event is free for visitors to attend and be sure to wear your favourite funky fall sweater. Vendors interested in participating can register at www.justsugarcookies.ca Sunflower Festival goes until Sunday, Sept. 6 at Foreman Farms, 1965 Foreman Road every Thursday to Sunday and is presented by Northern Lights Estate Winery. There are photo stations, farm animals, u-cut sunflowers with buy one get one every Friday, Bloom Café, picnic area and playground, hayrides from Thursday to Saturday, remote control car racing and every Thursday is Kids’ Day. Tickets can be purchased by cash, debit or credit on site and for more information or to purchase tickets online in advance visit www.northernlightswinery.ca/sunflower-fest Potato Festival at Huble Homestead Historic Site goes Monday, Sept. 7 on Mitchell Road, 40 kms north of Prince George. Fill your day with tater-themed activities, including games and crafts, heritage demonstrations, and more. Come early to buy heirloom potatoes and garlic from the Huble garden, enjoy a special menu of potato pancakes and lunch options and treat yourself to locally made items at 10 per cent off for the season-end General Store sale. This event marks the shift to weekends-only fall hours at Huble Homestead. Admission is by suggested donation of $10. For more information visit hublehomestead.ca or call 250-564-7033. Prince George Rock N’ Gem Show goes Friday, Sept. 11 to Sunday Sep. 13 at the Prince George Civic Centre presented by Can Gems Western Canada. Hours are Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a marketplace filled with crystals, minerals, fossils, gemstones, handcrafted jewelry, beads, carvings, lapidary supplies, and unique treasures brought in by vendors from across Canada. Visitors will have the opportunity
PWR/UP FACEBOOK PHOTO
PWR/UP, Canada’s premier AC/DC tribute concert, rocks the PG Playhouse on Saturday, Sept. 12.
to meet passionate small business owners, artisans, collectors and rockhounds who enjoy sharing the stories, history and beauty behind the pieces they carry. Entry is $3 per person, $7 per family and those five and under are free. There is a special feature UV Exclusive Event on Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. Experience the brilliance of minerals that glow under ultraviolet light during this captivating after-hours event. RSVP recommended by calling 587-377-5722. Walk-ins welcome. Movie in the Park goes Friday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Heather Road Park, 4833 Heather Road. Settle in under the stars and enjoy a family-friendly movie on a giant inflatable screen, creating a unique outdoor movie theatre experience for the whole community. This year’s feature presentation is Toy Story
5. The movie will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m., or at dusk, so bring your friends and family and enjoy an evening of entertainment outdoors. Food vendors will be onsite. Free admission. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, get comfortable to enjoy a movie under the stars. This event is presented by the City of Prince George in partnership with Fresh Air Cinema. Ballfield Bash Music Festival goes Saturday, Sept. 12 at Pineview Hall, 6470 Bendixon Road. This is the first annual Ballfield Bash Music Festival. There will be five great bands performing, including B Side Band, North of Stoner, Burner, Off the Record and Rick Stavely. There will be food truck and vendors on site. This is a fundraiser for the Pineview Recreation Commission. For tickets visit www.zeffy.com/en-CA/
ballfield-bash-music-festivalPG Prince George Parkinson’s Superwalk goes on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park beside the picnic shelter near 20th Avenue entrance. Registration opens at 11:30 and walk start is 12:30. A great day to have a walk with family and friends. The Telus Ambassadors are selling hot dogs and drinks. Please support this worthwhile event. To pre-register on-line visit www.parkinson.bc.ca/superwalk. Coldsnap presents Dan Mangan on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. The Prince George Folkfest Society is offering this concert as the first of three in the series and begins with two-time Juno Award-winning musician and songwriter Dan Mangan, who hasn’t performed in Prince George since 2010. His performance is a part of his Natural Light Tour. The ninth studio album for Mangan, Natural Light was released in 2025 and marks a return to folk music’s classic underpinnings of political resistance. Mangan sings for his kids, his wife and a society in existential crisis. For more information and tickets visit www. coldsnapfestival.tickit.ca/dan-mangan PWR/UP, Canada’s premier AC/DC tribute concert, goes Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:0 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse, 2626 Recplace Drive. PWR/ UP are lads with a devilish obsession for AC/DC, bringing all the attitude and power of 1980 when AC/DC was young and hungry. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ pwrup-acdc-canadas-premier-tributeconcert-prince-george Great Northwest Fibre Fest goes Sunday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel, 444 George Street. There will be 28 different vendors geared for fibre arts from all over BC and Alberta. There will be crafting and social gathering places to relax and visit with friends, old and new. Admission is free. For more information visit https:// greatnwfibrefest.ca CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Northern Twisters Square Dance Club New Dancer Lessons start Monday, Sept. 14 at Trinity Church, 1448 Fifth Avenue and goes for 12 weeks. For fun, fitness and friendship sign up and bring a friend. For more information email northerntwisterspg@gmail.com or call Loretta at 250-964-9236 or Glenda at 250-563-7743 or find them on Facebook. White Spruce City Chorus Open House goes Tuesday, Sept. 15, Sept. 22, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Studio 2880, 2880-15th Avenue. This is an all women’s acapella group, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International. Join the group for four Tuesdays of fun, friendships, fabulous harmonies and vocal education. De-stress your life by creating beautiful music. Every voice matters. For more information call Marlie at 778-890-0158 or Pam at 250-613-2073. Pottery Painting Party goes Tuesday, September 15 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at 4260 Chestnut Drive and is presented by Three Mad Potters. Come paint some handmade pottery. We’ll provide a bare pottery item for you to paint and all the supplies you’ll need. Just grab a friend and let your creativity flow. Don’t worry, we will coach you on how to use our special pottery paints. For more information and tickets visit https://www.threemadpotters.com/ paintingparty Recycling 101: everything you need to know about recycling in Prince George goes Wednesday, Sept, 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Growing Knowledge Community Compost Garden up at UNBC. This event is presented by REAPS. Confused about what to put in your blue or grey bins at curb? What about other household items... where do they go? From granola bar wrappers, Ziploc bags, coffee bags and more are all recyclable. During this workshop we aim to make recycling simple. Bring your questions and examples to find out where to recycle or dispose of safely. Lanterns Grief & Loss Support goes
CODY LAWLESS FACEBOOK PHOTO
Cody Lawless headlines the first night of Echo-Chamber 1 on Friday, Sept. 18 at the House of Ancestors Conference Centre and Café.
Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s School, 1088 Gillett Street and is a 10-week program. The mission is to empower children and youth facing separation, divorce, loss or other life altering events by providing safe, inclusive spaces for peer connection, emotional support and healing. There is no charge for the program and Lanterns is a non-sectarian organization. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information and to register call 778-281-3477 or email lanternspg2025@gmail.com Homicide on the Homestead goes Saturday, Sept. 19 at Huble Homestead and registration deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 2. This is a popular murder mystery event where participants will experience an afternoon filled with intrigue, hor d’oeuvres, and prizes. Get dressed
in your best roaring 20s clothes and get ready to do some sleuthing. Register before Sept. 2 to get the invitation that includes your character description and costume ideas, then get ready for an interactive afternoon with fellow guests. Space is limited and costumes are strongly recommended. Registration is open now and tickets are $60. Get yours before they’re gone at hublehomestead. ca. Echo-Chamber 1 goes Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19 at the House of Ancestors Conference Centre and Café, 355 Vancouver St. This is a twoday event with a line up of artists to shake the walls and light up the North. Day 1 headliner: Cody Lawless, supporting acts: Infectious, The Goomahs, The Cavernous, Deep Trouble, The
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Verdants, Evangeline, Kristian Janzen. Day 2 headliner: Evil Ebenezer, supporting acts: Lil Godd, Petty Boy Osley, Teo Laza, Caveman Casanova, Atomik, Diego Flores, Tokyogelic, Unknown Persona, Highbryd, Turell, Tennants, 6 Cell, Bioson, Urban Indian, Cold Messiah, J Finch, $Kiir0se, Ezra C, Esobi. Tickets are $40 for early bird, general admission is $75. For all the details visit https:// linktr.ee/EchoChamber/PG 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. 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. If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too. LOCF
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Flight path
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
COMMUNITY
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Cyclists follow migratory birds’ route, 30,000 km from Alaska to Argentina TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
The road from Halifax to Vancouver covers about 6,000 kilometres. Two years ago, Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert finished that cross-Canada bicycle trip in 30 days. But that was just a warmup for the transcontinental cycling trek the Edmonton couple is now undertaking. On Aug. 1, they left Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to begin a 30,000-kilometre ride to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, an undertaking they call Wings of Survival. Their inspiration is the world’s greatest endurance athletes — the millions of migratory birds that make that trip annually throughout their lives, following a north-south path that takes them to the breeding grounds of the high Arctic in the spring and to the warmth of Patagonia, where they feed through the winter. “We’ve lost three billion birds in the last 30 years just in North America. It really makes us want to take a stand and do something crazy to make people start to
pay attention,” said Carriere. “Timm and I are going to be the first people to ever follow birds along the Pacific Flyway on bikes. If the birds are dying, the environment’s not thriving, and that is a call to action.” In December 2022, at a United Nations conference in Montreal, 190 countries signed a landmark target agreement to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land, fresh water and oceans by 2030. Ultimately, the riders hope their trip will highlight the need for more favourable conservation policies to protect ecosystems. “It’s essential to take action now. There basically is no time to sit back and wait. It has to be now,” said Döbert. “People love to see other people kind of suffer on big expeditions. That’s what draws a very new demographic into the story, and because we follow bird migrations, it’s this very organic link between birds and humans really planting seeds. “In the news, what we do get exposed to is negative about climate change, but it’s sort of shifting the mindset of creating stories of hope and resilience, and we
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Filmmaker Justin Brunelle of Edmonton caught up with Wings of Survival bike riders Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert as they crossed the Arctic Circle in Alaska on their Wings of Survival ride.
can as individuals cause action and ripple effects. Humans are the stewards for looking after the planet, and this bird-human journey makes this really fascinating to understand how we are connected to nature.” Döbert, a 45-year-old tropical ecologist from Sprockhövel, Germany, used his connections in the scientific world to go to an island in Chile, where they located five long-beaked whimbrels and attached solar-powered GPS tracking devices. They’ve been live-tracking the birds since January to track their locations. They have lost touch with three of them but know that two are now in Mexico. “Birds are one of the best indicators of the health of the planet,” said Carriere. “So it’s making people become more aware that these ecosystems these birds thrive in are really important to our own human health. These are permanent stopover sites in Baja California in areas that need to be protected for biodiversity, and the journey of the birds is pinpointing the areas that need to be protected.” “What’s beautiful about birds is they go everywhere,” added Döbert. “Around half of the species migrate, even though we don’t necessarily see them because they migrate at night. There are billions of birds that have emerged from the boreal forest of Canada heading south at night. It’s reinforcing the notion that we have to come together in a global effort. It’s a shared responsibility. If we can look after the birds, we can look after ourselves, because they go everywhere.” Carriere works as a personal trainer in Edmonton. The 41-year-old former gymnast got into track and field and excelled in pole vaulting as a Canadian national team athlete. She switched to endurance sports and competed in heptathlon and, in 2014, became the country’s first female
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert get set to leave Prince George to resume their Wings of Survival trip on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. They are riding from the Arctic Ocean in Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina, a 30,000 km trip to raise awareness of the need to protect the habitat of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway.
decathlete. She ran in the Mount Everest Marathon, and four years ago she and Döbert competed in Patagonman, one of the world’s most gruelling Ironman-distance triathlons. Last summer, they rode across the Canadian Prairie provinces. If she reaches her Wings of Survival goal, it’s believed she will be the first female to complete that trip on a bicycle. Döbert, who grew up rowing and playing soccer, says it’s hard to train for the huge volume of cycling that’s ahead of them and said he was in the worst shape of his life when he started riding Aug. 1.
But he survived the first week and regained his fitness, riding for nine hours and being on the road for 12 hours each day since their trip began. “Now the cycling is almost the easiest. It’s more the navigating of traffic and the challenging weather conditions,” he said. They obviously have concerns about breathing smoke from wildfires in southern BC and plan to take the steeper route through Pemberton and Whistler to avoid the larger fires in the Fraser Valley. They have a support van, driven by Todd Horne of Kitchener, Ont., which has a foldout bed and carries their clothes,
COMMUNITY camping gear and vegan food supplies. A friend in Ontario, Charmaine Hammond, is connecting people who have provided help along the way to the riders, and that led to an overnight stay at the Ramada Hotel in Prince George, arranged through Tourism Prince George. Narrow shoulders are a common theme, especially in less-populated regions, and they’ve had to get used to the noise and physical threat of traffic passing close by. Truck drivers usually give them a wide berth, but they’ve had a few close calls with RV drivers travelling too close to the shoulder. One of the most harrowing parts of their trip so far came on a remote mountain pass on the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks, where foggy conditions reduced visibility to 20 metres while they descended a steep, slippery, rain-soaked dirt road. Passing truck drivers had difficulty seeing the riders until they were right up close to them. “We’ve done the trip across Canada and we know what it’s like,” said Döbert. “But coming off the Cassiar Highway and you hit the Yellowhead and there’s suddenly the worst possible shoulder and traffic. So there was kind of this reawakening that we’re not in the Alaskan wilderness anymore and we’re heading towards cities and more populated areas.” Both riders were chased by a dog for about half a kilometre on the road east of Houston, which got their hearts racing. Just before they left Prince George on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 27, the riders had to backtrack 35 kilometres west of the city, where their trip had been interrupted by a flat tire the previous night. They made the choice to take a van ride into town rather than patch the wheel alongside highway traffic in the dark. Since they started riding south on Alaska’s Dalton Highway a month ago, each had four tire punctures by the time they’d travelled 3,500 kilometres to Prince George. The highways in Alaska, Yukon and northern BC notoriously collect wire shards from truck tires. Hordes of mosquitoes and blackflies made highway tube changes harrowing experiences, taking chunks of skin out of Döbert’s legs. “We always try to remind ourselves that the more flies and mosquitoes there are, the happier the birds are going to be, because that’s why they travel all the
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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SUBMITTED PHOTO
Timm Döbert, left, and Leanna Carriere ride on the Dalton Highway in Alaska, part of their nine-month 30,000 km Wings of Survival ride to Argentina.
way to Alaska,” said Döbert. “It’s partly the solitude that they can breed on the tundra without human disturbance, but it’s primarily the food they like.” Carriere has a nine-year-old daughter, Adalynn, and throughout her trip she’ll be connecting with her daughter’s school and other schools across the country. The riders are working with an organization, Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants, to produce free virtual classrooms starting in September. That will give kids regular updates on what it’s like to ride around the world and experience the sights, sounds and smells, as well as the opportunity to ask questions about what’s motivating their ride. Being apart from her daughter is difficult. Carriere’s family plans to meet them in Vancouver, and Adalynn will be there. She hopes to see her at a couple of meeting points along the route. “It’s been harder than I expected,” said Carriere. “She gave me a little yellow duck a few years ago, so I always travel with it, and I take a picture of the duck and send it to her first thing in the morning. We stop our ride at 7 o’clock her time, wherever we are, and I make a call to her and I send postcards along the way so she has something to look forward to every day. “It’s hard for her to understand what I’m doing. It’s such a big moment in her life to be gone and it feels very long. It’s easy on a hard day to think, why am I doing this, I should go back home to be with her. Then I think everything we’ve done about the sacrifices of the last five years to build and create meaningful impact for our future, and she is our future. She’s only nine and she has to help advocate and I
understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.” Both riders have GoPro cameras attached to their bike helmets to record their trip, and film producer Justin Brunelle of Moving Artistry Productions is connecting with them at various points to record footage that will be used for a documentary. They use WhatsApp to send photos to update their website so people can monitor their progress. Carriere and Döbert are collecting donations through their website. They figure the trip will cost $150,000 and have so far raised $61,000 of their $114,000 fundraising goal. Food and fuel for their van are the major costs they’ll incur, but they also have to pay for vehicle insurance and border-crossing permits in Central and South America, as well as the cost of shipping the vehicle around the Darién Gap, a 100-kilometre break in the Pan-American Highway between Panama and Colombia where no paved road exists. They plan to pack-raft on the Caribbean side to get themselves through the gap and spent time practising their rafting skills by paddling inflatable boats in wild Alaskan rivers, but they won’t make a decision on how to proceed until they are there. The logistics of getting the van through Mexico still have to be worked out, and the 14 border crossings are also a concern. If their vehicle is held up at a border, that means using panniers on their bikes to carry all their belongings, and the weight of that would slow their progress considerably.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
LABOUR DAY 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Labour Day celebration includes a downtown march CITIZEN STAFF
Workers, families and community members are invited to join labour groups in Prince George on Monday, Sept. 7, for the city’s 10th annual Labour Day celebration. The event, organized by the Labour Day Organizing Committee with support from local unions and community organizations, will feature a march through downtown followed by an afternoon of free family entertainment at Canada Games Plaza. The Labour Day march is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., with the celebration at Canada Games Plaza, 808 Canada Games Way, running from noon to 3 p.m. Organizers say all food, entertainment and activities will be free. The family-oriented event will include hot dogs, mini-doughnuts, snow cones, popcorn, face painting, bouncy castles,
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Members of the North Central Labour council and affiliates held the annual Labour Day March through downtown Prince George in 2024. The event returns Monday, Sept. 7.
mini-train rides, a petting zoo, clowns, music and giveaways. Live music will be provided by The Nobodies and Stewart White. Community organizations and unions will also have information booths, giving attendees an opportunity to learn more about local organizations and the
HEALTH CARE WORKERS like care aides, clerical, trades and security are a vital part of the team delivering health care in B.C.
Happy Labour Day from the Hospital Employees’ Union Working to make health care better for everyone
labour movement. A dunk tank fundraiser will be held in support of the local food bank. Participants can purchase balls for $2, with Mayor Simon Yu and members of Prince George city council among those expected to take part. The North Central Labour Council
says the annual celebration is an opportunity for working people and their families to come together to recognize workers’ contributions and celebrate labour solidarity. Organizers are encouraging residents to bring their friends and families and take part.
LABOUR DAY 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Runners warming up for this year’s Labour Day Classic TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
The Labour Day Classic, a 52-year Prince George tradition, is just around the corner. This year’s race is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6 and runners and wheelchair athletes will have their choice of four distances — 42.2 kilometres, 21.1 km, 10 km or five km — in the annual Prince George Roadrunners event. It starts and finishes at the Outdoor Ice Oval site at Exhibition Park. The race’s history dates back to 1974 when it was known as the Prince George to Boston Marathon, a 17-mile road race from Salmon Valley to Spruceland Mall. The winner earned an automatic berth into the following year’s Boston Marathon. In 1979, Terry Fox completed the
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Runners leave the start of the Labour Day Classic race at the Prince George Oval Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025.
race and used that as a springboard to his Marathon of Hope cross-Canada journey in 1980. Rick Hansen competed in the Prince George To Boston race alongside Fox
As we enjoy the Labour Day long weekend, remember school starts right after the holiday. That means children are back in our school zones. Please slow down, stay alert, and watch for students crossing our streets. Have a Safe and Happy Labour Day. Rosalyn Bird, MLA Prince George–Valemount
and that was his inspiration to start his Man In Motion tour around the world from 1985-87. The Roadrunners club took over organizing the race in 2019.
The deadline to register https:// pgroadrunners.ca/join-us/registration/ for this year’s race is Sunday, Sept. 4 at 11:59 p.m. Volunteers are always needed. If you can help, race organizer Mitch Guitard will find you a duty. He can be contacted at pgroadrunners@gmail.com. Race packages will be available for pickup on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. There is no post-race banquet/awards ceremony but the celebrations will happen at the finish line once the race is complete. Last year’s Labor Day Run marathon distance (42.2 km) winners were Lavis Russell, who took the men’s division in 3:00:06, and Sarah Wong, who set the women’s pace, finishing in 4:08:11. Juliette Davies won the women’s half-marathon in 1:36;11, while Thomas Reed was the fastest male, completing the 21.1 km course in 1:30:40.
Municipal Elections in BC Occur on October 17th Local newspapers serve as an important check and balance to your local politicians. Ensure that they support local news. Your vote counts and can help!
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
LABOUR DAY 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
It all started with a printers’ strike in Toronto in 1872 The first Monday in September has been an official holiday in Canada since 1894 CITIZEN STAFF
Labour Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but its roots are firmly tied to the fight for better working conditions and fairness, according to the Canadian Labour Congress. The first Monday in September has been an official holiday in Canada since 1894, but the origins of Labour Day date back more than two decades earlier to a printers’ strike in Toronto. The Canadian Labour Congress says unions began organizing parades and rallies in Toronto and Ottawa in support of the successful 1872 Toronto printers’ strike, a pivotal event in Canadian labour history that helped lead to the
decriminalization of unions. At the time, workers commonly faced 12-hour workdays and six-day workweeks. Toronto printers went on strike in the spring of 1872 as part of the Nine Hour Movement, which sought to establish a nine-hour workday. The CLC says the response from employers was harsh, with police called in, union leaders jailed and workers’ livelihoods and reputations damaged. The treatment of the strikers helped turn public opinion against the status quo. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald’s government subsequently passed the Trade Union Act, which legalized and protected union activity in Canada. Although the printers’ strike did not achieve the nine-hour workday, the CLC says its impact was lasting. With unions now operating legally, workers increasingly organized to push for fair wages, reasonable working
hours and safer workplaces. The political importance of working people also became increasingly apparent. The CLC says politicians recognized that workers, as voters, were concerned about issues affecting their daily lives. Parades held in support of the Nine Hour Movement and the printers’ strike became annual events in Toronto and Ottawa. The movement also influenced the development of Labour Day celebrations in the United States. In 1882, an American labour leader witnessed Toronto’s annual May labour festivities and was inspired to organize the first American “Labor Day” in New York City on Sept. 5 of that year. The celebration spread throughout the United States. By the time U.S. President Grover Cleveland declared the first Monday in September a federal holiday in 1894, 30 states were already observing Labor Day.
Labour Day reminds us that workers’ rights are only ever won through collective action, courage and solidarity. This summer thousands of nurses came together in the face of employer harassment and intimidation to support each other and defend their rights during the longest nursing strike in BC’s history. BCNU thanks everyone for their support and solidarity in helping nurses protect those rights.
WORKERS’ RIGHTS ARE NEVER GIVEN. THEY’RE WON. bcnu.org
In Canada, pressure for a national labour holiday continued to build. On July 23, 1894, the federal government under Prime Minister John Thompson passed legislation officially establishing Labour Day. (Note: It’s Labor Day in the U.S. and Labour Day in Canada, which uses U.K. spelling.) A large parade was held in Winnipeg that year, and celebrations soon spread across the country. Today, communities across Canada and the United States mark Labour Day with picnics, parades, concerts and marches. In Prince George, members of various unions — from trades organizations like the United Steelworkers and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to white-collar bodies like CUPE, the PG District Teachers’ Association and the Hospital Employees’ Union — will celebrate on Monday, Sept. 7.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
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COMMUNITY
Terry Fox legacy lives on in annual run CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
The Terry Fox Run is a legacy piece of Prince George’s history. Tom Masich and Dick Voneugen hosted the Prince George to Boston Marathon in 1979, an event that saw Terry Fox run the distance to determine whether he could complete that kind of mileage. Immediately after the event, Terry was overheard calling his mother to say he thought he could run his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope. To honour Fox’s legacy, the run was started as an annual event, with Masich at the helm for years. Unfortunately, Masich developed Parkinson’s disease and passed away in 2022, poignantly as most of the rest of his family was attending the Terry Fox Run. The moment is forever etched in the Masich family’s history. When Masich’s granddaughter, Sylvia Masich, heard three years ago that there was no one to organize the race, she decided to take it on. “I couldn’t let the Terry Fox Run die in Prince George,” Sylvia said. This year marks the 46th annual Terry Fox Run, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. “It’s a walking, running, wheeling good time,” Sylvia said, adding that it is the best way she can honour her grandfather’s memory. Many members of the Masich family are involved in organizing this year’s Terry Fox Run. “This has really become a big family event,” Sylvia said. “My mom does the registration, my aunt helps her out, my cousin does traffic control with my dad the day of the event and I was talking to some of my other cousins and they said they’d love to help out this year, so it’s really become a big family event for us as well, which is so special, and I know my grandpa would be thrilled.” The Terry Fox Run is open to anyone, regardless of how they choose to participate, Sylvia added. “One of the things that I like about this route is that it is a circle, so if your
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Fibre Fest returns for its 10th year CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
The 45th Terry Fox Run got underway with two young cyclists and members of the Timberwolves women’s basketball team leading the way for the three-kilometre loop at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Sunday, Sept. 14, 2024.
kid is tired, if you are tired, you can dip down one of the avenues to get back to the park — you don’t have to commit to the entire three kilometres and it’s really accessible for everyone, which I think is super important for those who are in wheelchairs or using walkers — which we saw last year at the event,” Sylvia said. “Being able to see people complete the entire thing with a big smile on their face makes me so happy.” The Terry Fox Run is a fundraiser supporting world-class cancer research. “So the money goes to the Terry Fox Foundation, which then goes to the Terry Fox Research Institute, which then funds so many different projects across the country towards cancer research and they work with other institutions,” Sylvia said. “They work with universities, they work with BC Cancer Society, to do groundbreaking cancer research - even how to prevent cancer. So it’s really cool to see the money that we’re raising go to changing outcomes for people in Prince George and across Canada.” Last year, the Prince George Terry Fox Run raised more than $30,000.
Sylvia said she would like to meet or exceed that amount this year. “It would be really cool if we could raise a dollar for every person in Prince George and kind of go with that ratio, which was Terry’s goal,” Sylvia said. Terry Fox’s greatest wish was for a cancer-free world. “Honestly, people coming out to remember his legacy is what’s important for me because if we don’t, it’s going to be forgotten and we can’t let that happen,” Sylvia said. Residents are encouraged to bring their friends, family, co-workers, teammates and pets to the event Sunday, Sept. 20. Participants can run, walk or wheel the route, which starts at the Bandshell and goes through the park and along part of the route Terry ran in 1979 during the Prince George to Boston Marathon that started it all. Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the course officially opens from 10 a.m. to noon. Funds raised go to cancer research. Online donations can be made at https://run.terryfox.ca/princegeorge.
In its 10th year, the Great Northwest Fibre Fest will see fibre artists, crafters and makers come together for a funfilled day that brings like-minded people together at the Ramada Hotel Downtown Prince George on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “This is our 10th annual and that’s kind of exciting,” Bonne Leiphart, one of the organizers of the free event, said. There are 28 vendors who will be in attendance including those who dye yarn, create hand-crafted products like tools to help you do what you do, offer accessories to enhance your projects and there will be finished products to purchase as that perfect gift. Last year the Fibre Fest saw about 350 people and organizers are expecting the same this year. All the vendors have been chosen for high-quality products and many are from the region and all are Canadian. The vendors will be in the main ballroom at the Ramada and some will be set up out in the hall to offer everyone adequate space to browse. Vendors include 7sliaa Ravenstail Weaving & More whose art is a reflection of her heritage, while Big Pink Rose offers dyed yarns in unique colour combinations and Clayworks North will offer functional and whimsical pottery. All things felting will be well represented by Le Studio and Something Magical that offers felting kits for beginners to enjoy. It’s a day filled with warmth, community and the joy of creating with fibre, Bonne added. “The space in the Ramada is quite open so there’s plenty of room for all the vendors and the Prince George Quilters Guild will also have their display,” Bonne said. Everyone is welcome to attend the free event. For more information and a list of vendors t visit www.greatnwfibrefest.ca/
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Purple Mr. PG socks part of big push for Parkinson’s
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CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
Tourism Prince George has partnered with Canadian Tire and Parkinson Prince George to launch a fundraiser featuring limited-edition purple Mr. PG socks. With the generous support of Selen Alpay at Canadian Tire, 100 per cent of sales proceeds from the 500 pairs of socks will go to Parkinson PG to support its local programs. The Prince George Parkinson Support Group offers programs to people in the community who have Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers. As Shirley Bond, a volunteer with the local support group, says, “We love our caregivers and they need our support, too.” Everyone can help create a meaningful impact by purchasing a pair of socks from Canadian Tire or the Tourism Prince George Visitor Information Centre for $20 each. Only 500 pairs are available. Serena Sanghera, a volunteer with the Prince George Parkinson Support Group, opened the announcement Wednesday afternoon at Tourism Prince George’s office in Canada Games Plaza by welcoming those in attendance. She was also sporting a pair of the purple Mr. PG fundraising socks. “Today is about what can happen when a community comes together,” Sanghera said. The Mr. PG socks were just the beginning of the good news shared at the event. “Our group has really noticed an increased awareness in Prince George of Parkinson’s disease and how it affects those with PD and their families,” Gina Beddome of Parkinson PG said. During the announcement, Beddome talked about the SuperWalk and how everyone could get involved, including by joining Selen Alpay’s fundraising team. The team came out in large numbers last year to support Alpay after he announced in the summer of 2025 that he had Parkinson’s disease. Alpay took to the stage to talk about last year’s SuperWalk fundraising
TOURISM PG PHOTO
Tourism Prince George has partnered with Canadian Tire and Parkinson Prince George to launch a limited-edition fundraiser featuring purple socks emblazoned with the iconic Mr. PG.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH
The Prince George Parkinson Support Group shows off the purple socks for Parkinson’s that are on sale now.
efforts. “‘Shaken, not stirred’ was the name my dear friend Shirley Bond came up with, and I thought up the tagline ‘shaken, not stirred,’” Alpay said. “‘Shaken, not stirred’ is not just a line in a James Bond movie. We who live with this disease have had our bodies shaken and our hearts and minds remain unstirred as we move forward on our life’s journey. We are all able to carry on with our lives because of the incredible support we get from this fine community. That means everything to us year after year as we see people show up, donating and participating in the SuperWalk in Prince George. “The outstanding generosity of everyone who contributed to Selen’s Squad and every other team here was literally second to none. Get this! In 2025, the fundraising total in Prince George was more than $40,000 — 40 grand! Selen’s
Squad was the top fundraiser for the 2025 Parkinson’s SuperWalk in BC. This massive achievement belongs to this entire community, with everyone who donated, participated and helped to achieve this milestone.” There were more than 400 team members on Selen’s Squad last year. Alpay said he was moved to see everyone come out to support the cause during last year’s SuperWalk and encouraged everyone to attend and donate again this year. The fundraiser takes place Saturday, Sept. 12, at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Scott McWalter, Tourism Prince George executive director, took a moment to say a few words and show off the socks. “Mr. PG has always been a symbol of Prince George, and this initiative is a great example of what can happen when our community comes together around
an important cause,” McWalter said. “Tourism Prince George is incredibly grateful to Selen Alpay and Canadian Tire for generously covering the cost of all 500 pairs of socks, allowing 100 per cent of every sale to directly support the local Parkinson’s community. We know Prince George will get behind this campaign, proudly wearing their limited-edition purple Mr. PG socks, which also helps build incredible momentum leading up to the annual Parkinson SuperWalk on Sept. 12.” Bond said she was excited about the partnership between Tourism Prince George and the Prince George Parkinson Support Group. “The money raised will stay to support those here in Prince George impacted by Parkinson’s, and it’s really fun — the socks are really great and it’s a really unique way to raise awareness and raise funds, and that’s really what it’s all about,” Bond said. “We are really grateful to the team at Tourism Prince George and we look forward to people wearing them and purchasing them.” For more information about Selen’s Squad and the SuperWalk visit www. support.parkinson.bc.ca/site/
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Throwback Thursday: Week of September 3
L.O.C.F.
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Sept. 2, 1986: Sam Taylor, 4, says goodbye to his mother Gwen before starting his !rst day at Ron Brent Elementary. Sam joined 1500 new learners starting kindergarten in School District 57. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MILNE
Sept. 6, 1966: Papers may be delayed! Keith Pederson and The Citizen reminded readers that their paper boys were called back to class. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Sept. 5, 2006: The 30th Annual Labour Day Classic in 2006 saw roughly 160 competitors face the heat. Will you be running this Sunday? CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVID MAH
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HEALTH
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Study finds rising spending on private health care in BC AISHA CHAUDHRY
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Over the last three years, private spending on health care in Canada increased nearly twice as fast as public spending — with British Columbians spending more on private health care than some of their provincial counterparts. A recent report by Andrew Longhurst — a senior researcher for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and PhD student at Simon Fraser University — found Canada ranked 28th out of 35 OECD countries for public health-care spending. BC ranked fifth in private spending, at an average of $2,653 per person. However, the province also ranked third overall for provincial funding, at $6,237 per person. About 60 per cent of private healthcare spending in 2023 went toward non-physician professions — such as psychologists, dentists and physiotherapists — and pharmaceuticals. Longhurst said he was concerned about the findings of the report but, unfortunately, not shocked. “I think that really helps us understand what many households are grappling with, especially in the context of no national Pharmacare plan,” he said. The federal Liberal government under Justin Trudeau had made promises to work toward this, but it appears this is no longer a priority for Mark Carney’s government. Canada is the only “advanced” country with a universal health-care system but no universal pharmacare program — something Longhurst said is much overdue. Making public health care broader in terms of what is covered is not only an ethical solution but one that could lessen the financial burden on the average Canadian and ultimately ease the strain on the public system. “If people aren’t able to access prescription drugs, for example, they may not be able to manage their chronic condition, which means that they’re going to end up in hospital and it’s going
ANNA SCHVETS/PEXELS PHOTO
A recent report for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found BC ranked fifth in Canada in private spending on health care at an average of $2,653 per person.
to be more expensive for the public system overall,” said Longhurst. Other than Pharmacare, another area Longhurst believes BC could make better investments in is senior care. About 15 per cent of private healthcare funding went toward long-term care — spending on home care also increased the fastest, at 17.4 per cent from 2021-23. Home support services allow residents to live independently in their homes for as long as possible, while long-term care is for people who can no longer be cared for at home due to more complex care needs. Earlier this year, the province
cancelled contracts for five long-term care facilities and halted the construction of two others. “This is a big gap in the province. Home support can be very expensive, especially for lower-income households, and keep in mind that home support is intended to support people to stay in their own home longer and prevent the need for more expensive facility-based care, like long-term care,” said Longhurst. Most areas that people pay out of pocket for are things not covered under the Canada Health Act, but Longhurst said this provides a helpful framework for where work needs to start to
improve access and increase coverage. Longhurst believes the federal government can also play a much larger role in pushing the province to create more regular and timely access to a primary caregiver, which could be a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Some provinces, whether deliberately or from neglect, said Longhurst, have simply not kept investments in health care at pace with population growth or medical complexity. Over the past few years, some politicians, such as those in the BC Conservative Party, have viewed expanding privatization as the solution to fixing Canada’s health-care system — something Longhurst said is not the answer. While he recognizes the challenges facing Canada’s public health-care system, Longhurst quickly pointed to the United States’ private health-care system and how the country has some of the worst mortality rates when looking at chronic disease prevalence and unmet health-care needs. “Because (Canadians) haven’t had to deal with private health insurance for medically necessary care, I don’t think people realize that decisions to get treatment are decided by insurers rather than clinicians,” said Longhurst. He explained that Americans can often find themselves waiting to receive treatment as their doctors need private health insurance companies to greenlight everything before they can proceed. Longhurst highlighted his own upbringing in the United States, where both his parents had private insurance through work but still had to spend tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket every year on health care. “Unpaid medical expenses are the number one source of personal bankruptcy (in the United States). If Canadians are feeling pinched financially right now, you can only imagine how bad it could get if people are now expected to pay out of pocket for all of the basic health care that they need,” said Longhurst. This article originally appeared in The Surrey Citizen.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Local Sports
Cougars coaches impressed by 16-year-old prospect Kadric Mujcin has a shot at cracking the roster this season TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
It’s rare for a 16-year-old to crack a Western Hockey League roster, but this might be the year for Kadric Mujcin. After a year of seasoning in the U18 triple-A division of the BC Elite Hockey League with his hometown Cariboo Cougars, Mujcin has a chance to take that next step to the major junior Cougars, the team that drafted him in the fifth round, 115th overall, in 2025. If you’ve never seen him play, Mujcin is kind of like the Tasmanian devil from the Bugs Bunny cartoons. He’s a buzzsaw who treats loose pucks like dinner, and once he latches onto that rubber biscuit, he’s not about to give it up or share it until he Mujcin spots a passing lane to an open teammate. The Prince George native’s knack for producing offence led to 15 goals and 37 points in 33 games as a 15-year-old rookie with the U18 Cougars, plus four points in four playoff games. Playing for Team Hamhuis in the Rob Charney Cup intrasquad game at CN Centre on Sunday, Aug. 30, Mujcin was held off the scoreboard in their 11-3 loss to Team Brewer, but that didn’t affect his standing with the Cougars. The five-foot-10, 160-pound right winger did enough during training camp to impress the Cougars’ coaching staff, and he’s sticking around at least for the next couple of weeks as they prepare for four exhibition games. “Mujcin’s had a great camp. Every
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Cougars Team Brewer goalie Chase Miles searches for the puck as Team Hamhuis forward Adam M’hamed leaps over him during the Red vs White Intra Squad Game at CN Centre Sunday, Aug. 30.
day he’s played, he’s shown he’s a gritty little guy and he’s got some skill,” said Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb. “He’s been around it every day, creating scoring chances, and he’s doing everything he can do. “He had a really good year last year and obviously he’s had a really good summer. He’s tenacious, he’s on the puck, he’s not a very big guy but can make plays, too, and when you’re a smaller guy like that, that’s how you have to play. “He’s right in the mix.” Mujcin grew up watching the WHL Cougars, and it’s always been his dream to play in the league his dad, Mirsad, played in as a rough-and-tumble centre in the early 1990s for the Tri-City Americans and Regina Pats. Kadric caught Lamb’s eye two
seasons ago when he led the U15 Cariboo Cougars in scoring with 63 points in 27 games. In Sunday’s intrasquad game, Mujcin lined up on the right side for Team Hamhuis with centre Adam M’hamed and left winger Jonathan Bitonti. They were named to the starting lineup as a reward for playing well in the scrimmages. Mujcin felt a lot more comfortable in his second Cougar training camp, both in the dressing room and on the ice. “I thought I played pretty good. I played competitively and was hard on pucks, and I think that’s what they want to see,” said Mujcin. “I feel like I just played hard and won lots of puck battles and races. “You’ve always got to dream big and work for it. (Mirsad’s influence) helped me a lot, but he just let me play my own
game. He’s a fighter and he was tough, and I feel I’m pretty tough, too, but back then it was really tough.” Mujcin figures his time last season with the Cariboo Cougars under head coach Tyler Brough, playing in a league against players as much as two years his senior, was the perfect stepping stone to the WHL. “There were some tough times as a 15-year-old, but the vets helped me through it and it was a good season,” he said. Mujcin was drafted the same year the Cougars picked undersized centre Cohen Baker in the WHL Prospects Draft, and now they’re finally teammates, trying to stick around with the big team. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
SPORTS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Next Cougars roster starts taking shape at training camp CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Baker was chosen 17th overall in 2025 but missed his first WHL training camp last year after going knee-on-knee in a collision at Team BC tryouts in Chilliwack that spring. The 16-year-old Kamloops native went on to become a point-per-game player for the Thompson Blazers last year, finishing with 11 goals and 17 assists in 29 games. He added eight points in seven playoff games. “Because we’re the same age and were drafted to the same team, it was really competitive. We both want to prove ourselves,” said Mujcin. “We had similar points in the league. He plays hard, he plays the game the right way.” Baker stands five-foot-five and weighs 140 pounds, and he’s cut from the same cloth as Mujcin when it comes to his hockey style. He makes up for his lack of size by being the aggressor, using his
speed and soft hands to gain advantages, and he hopes that will lead to a spot on the team this year for both him and Mujcin. “It would be good to stick around here and develop and just learn how to play at this level and keep grinding it out,” said Baker. “Obviously, we butt heads when we play each other in U18. We’re both physical guys who like to play on the edge, and it’s always good to have a guy like that on the team. “I got off to a shaky start last season. Coming off an injury was hard, but once I got into it, I thought I was pretty good and consistent.” Baker had two assists for Team Brewer on Sunday on a line with Cruz Buchanan and Carson Janko. In that 11-3 Team Brewer rout, Buchanan, the Cougars’ eighth-round pick in 2026 from St. Albert, Alta., led all scorers with four goals, while Tristan Kriech had a threegoal game.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Team Hamhuis defenseman Kolbie McColl steers the puck away from Team Brewer forward Evan Lynch during the Red vs White Intra Squad Game at CN Centre on Sunday, Aug. 30.
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Returning winger Townes Kozicky aces training camp TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
After playing in the final training-camp scrimmage of the weekend Sunday afternoon, Townes Kozicky walked out of the Prince George Cougars’ dressing room for a cooldown with his jersey off. It wasn’t hard to pick him out of the crowd. Kozicky has a bright red scar that runs the width of his belly, a permanent souvenir of the surgery he underwent five months ago in Spokane, Wash., after suffering a ruptured spleen in Game 5 of the opening-round series against the Spokane Chiefs. Now heading into his second WHL season, Kozicky has made a full recovery from the scary incident, and all indications are that he’s going to be an impactful player patrolling the right wing for the Cougars this season. He certainly impressed the Cougars’ coaches, who watched Team Byfuglien play from their perch in the media box at CN Centre. “He’s been unbelievable in this camp,” said head coach and general manager Mark Lamb. “He had a really good summer and he’s just been outstanding. With his skating, he’s one of the best players here. “His game was going to the next level anyways last year when he got hurt and we really missed him in the playoffs. We lost him and (his linemate Dmitri) Yakutsenak, and that was two-thirds of the line with (Kaden) Lemire.” Kozicky was selected 44th overall in the second round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and can play either centre or the right side. He finished his rookie season with three goals and 12 points in 58 games and scored his first WHL playoff goal in Game 4 of the Spokane series. “I like everything about him. He’s hard on pucks, he can skate, he makes plays, he’ll score a lot more goals this year,” said Lamb. “He’s more mature. He’s a 200-foot player.” The 18-year-old from Calgary still doesn’t know exactly what caused the injury that resulted in his spleen rupturing. It led to severe bleeding in his
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
Cougars forward Townes Kozicky moves in to take a shot on Victoria Royals goalie Ethan Eskit in the second period at CN Centre Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Kozicky is back on the ice after a spleen injury cut his playoff run short in April.
abdominal area, and the sudden blood loss caused him to faint. “It was a bit of a freak accident. I gave someone a light little bump and my side started hurting, and it went from there. It just hit the perfect spot,” he said. “My side was hurting, but I was willing to play through that. It was playoffs. And then I passed out.” Cougars athletic therapist Dave Adolph rushed to his aid on the bench. After a few seconds, Kozicky regained consciousness and walked under his own power to the dressing room at the Spokane Chiefs’ Nutrien Veterans Arena, where they were met by Chiefs athletic therapist Dave Filappone, the Spokane medical staff and his dad, Ryan, a Calgary paramedic who was at the game with Townes’ mother. He was rushed to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane, where he underwent emergency surgery. The spleen is a fist-sized organ that sits under the left ribcage. As a non-essential part of the immune system, it functions as a blood filter, producing
antibodies to fight infections and storing lymphocytes (white blood cells) that kill harmful bacteria, viruses and diseases. Without his spleen, Kozicky is more prone to serious infections and will require more frequent immunizations and antibiotics, but can otherwise lead a healthy, active lifestyle. “It feels great to be back. It feels like a long time,” said the six-foot-two, 181pound Kozicky, who resumed skating in June. “For the first two months after the surgery, I couldn’t do anything. It was hard to move. The recovery was good, though. My skating feels pretty good and it’s great to be back with the team. It felt great to get back to (body-checking opponents). I missed it.” Until he was injured, Kozicky was an effective third-line winger, and his tenacious forechecking against the Chiefs was creating turnovers that led to scoring chances for his linemates, Yakutsenak and Lemire. “I’d say playing fast, playing smart, making plays in the O-zone, but also
hitting and forechecking hard,” said Kozicky when asked what playing style he tries to bring to the ice every night. Kozicky is one of 14 returning players from the team that reached the Western Conference semifinal and lost in six games to the Penticton Vees. He missed everything about being a Cougar during his five months away from the team. “I love the culture. That’s the biggest thing, and I love Prince George, and all the guys are amazing,” he said. “Every day you come to the rink excited to be there because I get to be with everyone. Prince George is a bigger city, but it still has that small-town feel. It feels like home.” The three-day camp wrapped up with the Rob Charney Cup intrasquad game Sunday night. Kozicky sat out that game with the other veterans and watched the new recruits battle for jobs. “Lots of new faces,” he said. “I thought all the young guys (in camp) are really good, especially for their first year. I remember when I was 15, I was a little scared, and even at 16, but they really held their own out there.”
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Rusty Nuts hockey team to compete at 55+ BC Games The players will be remembering Dave Bellamy, a founder, who died Aug. 22 CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
With the 55+ BC Games only a few days away, it’s time to talk about the event. About 3,000 people will converge on Kamloops from Tuesday, Sept. 8, to Saturday, Sept. 12, to participate in 24 different sports and activities. Some people may argue with calling some of the events activities, but I don’t consider cribbage a sport — it’s a totally different skill set for that. And if you don’t believe me, you can come throw the hammer with me and tell me if it’s on the same physical-exertion scale as playing cribbage. People will compete in 8-ball, archery, carpet bowling, corn hole, cribbage, cycling, darts, disc golf, equestrian, fivepin bowling, golf, hockey, ice curling, lawn bowling, pickleball, slo-pitch, snooker, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, trail running and triathlon. There are 58 people from Prince George competing at the Games and 145 from our zone, which is one of 13 zones that geographically divide BC and includes the Yukon because we’re Canadian and we don’t leave anyone out. Prince George is in Zone 9, the North Central region of the province, which includes 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, Barkerville, Bridge Lake, Canim Lake, Forest Grove, Green Lake, Horsefly, Interlakes, Lac La Hache, Likely, Mackenzie, McBride, McLeese Lake, Prince ºGeorge, Quesnel, Wells and Williams Lake. I caught up with Charlie Freeman, a longtime hockey player from the Rusty Nuts team in Prince George. Freeman has been playing with the Rusty Nuts since before 2000, as well as in other hockey leagues in Prince George. Freeman, now 79, is the oldest player
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT
In December 2024, Dave Bellamy, second from left, was honoured as one of the founding members of the Prince George Rusty Nuts who began playing old-timers hockey tournaments in 1986. The team executive, from left, Norm Schmitz, Gord Flewelling, Neil Bilodeau, Wes Zapotichny and Charlie Freeman, presented Bellamy with his framed jersey at Kin 1. Bellamy died Saturday, Aug. 22 at age 85.
on the Prince George team, which will compete in the men’s 70-plus age category during the 55+ BC Games in Kamloops. Freeman has played in the 55+ BC Games many times, he added. “This is really a super event — it’s provincewide — so to be able to meet all the people of various ages and abilities and from all different sports, everything from bocce to track and field is wonderful,” Freeman said. “I was in Nanaimo last year and it was great.” Freeman laughed when I asked him how many people are on the team going to Kamloops, as the intention was to have 13 players and two goalies going to the competition. “As you can imagine, at our age, things happen and right now we’re a couple of people short,” Freeman said with a chuckle. “And one of them could be me. I am embarrassed to say I have a gardening injury. I did something to my MCL (medial collateral ligament).
“You know, I played hockey from Oct. 1 to April 15. I played 74 out of 76 games and never got injured. Then I go into my garden and did a number on my leg. So the Rusty Nuts have about 45 guys on the team and we play three times a week. There is super camaraderie and it all has to do with one man, and that’s Dave Bellamy. “Without him, we wouldn’t be giving the wives free time where we are out of their hair, where we can still act like teenagers in the locker room and on the ice.” There are 25 players out of the 45 Rusty Nuts who are over 70 years old, Freeman noted. “And we’ve got a competitive team going to play at the 55+ BC Games this year,” he said. “We’re all looking forward to it and most of us are camping in an RV place down there, so we’ll all enjoy being together. The biggest accolades go back to Dave Bellamy because all of us would be sitting in our recliners and maybe
not as healthy as we’d like to be at this stage of our life, and here we are still playing the game of hockey just like when we were kids.” Bellamy passed away Aug. 22. Condolences go out to his family, friends and the Rusty Nuts, who loved him. This year’s 55+ BC Games in Kamloops are the closest the event has come to Prince George in a very long time. Prince George hosted the 55+ BC Games in 2002 and 2008, and people are still talking about them, Linda Meise, past Zone 9 director and current treasurer, has said many times. I am hoping the City of Prince George’s bid to host the Games in 2029 or 2030 will be accepted. We will hear the good news, hopefully, sometime this fall. My fingers are crossed that we get it. Full disclosure: I am competing at the 55+ BC Games in track and field, where I throw all the things. Wish us luck!
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Tano T’enneh tournament raises funds for local youth TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
When Tano T’enneh Enterprises CEO Evan Salter pitched the idea of organizing a golf tournament to raise money for Indigenous youth in the Prince George region, Chief Dolleen Logan was unsure how the local business community would respond. She got a resounding answer. All 36 team spots for the one-day event at Prince George Golf and Curling Club on Thursday, Aug. 20, were quickly filled. On the day of the tournament, there wasn’t a parking spot to be had near the course. The overwhelming response from sponsors, as well as friends and family of the 140 golfers who took advantage of a warm, sunny afternoon for their 18-hole tour of the course, raised more than $100,000. The money will go to Lheidli T’enneh youth programs, allowing some of the city’s underprivileged children to participate in sports, arts and music and take advantage of travel opportunities they otherwise could not afford. “When Evan said, ‘Let’s do a golf tournament and raise money for the kids,’ honestly, I was hesitant - who’s going to come and play in the tournament on a Thursday?” Logan said. “I thought it would just be our staff and a few people. It’s turned out we have 36 teams and a waiting list. It’s just gone crazy. The business community has rallied around it, so many have come and filled it up.” Tano was established in 2025 as the economic and business development arm of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. It began with the hiring of Salter in March 2025, and a year later, Tano opened its downtown Prince George office at 1253 Fifth Ave. Lheidli T’enneh entered the business community two decades ago through a forestry partnership with Roga Contracting, which the nation purchased five years ago. It has also owned and operated Tano Fuel, a gas station and convenience store in Shelley, since 2017.
CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE
Evan Salter lines up a putt while being watched by his foursome partners, from left, Mike Nienhuis, Dave Babych and Ingrid Mendez at the inaugural Tano T’enneh Enterprises golf tournament at PGGCC on Aug. 20.
“Tano T’enneh Enterprises started last year, but Tano itself has been around for a long time under the chief and council’s guidance,” Salter said. “That separation is something the chief has wanted for a long time. “I just moved to PG last year and I thought to myself, we’re a new company and one way to get our name out is to sponsor a golf tournament. Having the Nation behind us made that happen. We were fortunate to sell it out and we had 50 sponsors and over $150,000 in sponsorships. That doesn’t include the revenue raised at the tournament through auctions and player registration.” Salter received a good omen when his house in Nova Scotia, which had been listed for more than a year, sold the day before the tournament. One of the youth programs the tournament money will fund is Gathering Our Voices (GOV), an annual youth leadership conference that teaches
young people how to govern and serve on councils. The next GOV conference is set for March 15-18, 2027, in Victoria. “Every year it’s somewhere different and the kids raise money for it, and this will pay for their hotels and travel,” Logan said. “This will help them with sports and anything. This will show the youth people care.” She said more Indigenous children want to play hockey but can’t afford it. The tournament proceeds will allow some of them to sign up for the season. The popularity of this year’s golf tournament is creating momentum that will likely make it a two-day event next year. Salter, 65, moved to Prince George last year from Guysborough, N.S., where he held a similar role as the business leader of the seven groups that make up the Nikma (Mi’kmaq) Nation. He also helped establish economic development corporations for the Métis in Ontario and BC.
After 1 ½ years of watching Tano grow under Salter’s leadership, Logan says the organization is just scratching the surface of taking its place in the local business marketplace. Indigenous tourism opportunities, such as the Lheidli T’enneh’s interpretive centre at The Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, which opens in May, will no doubt lead to other ventures that will cater to tourists, and Tano plans to lead that charge. “It’s totally untapped, there’s so much interest in other cultures,” Logan said. “I’ve been talking to band members that have trap lines and they could take tourists to the first part of their trap line and show them how it’s done. Show them what you would eat if you were trapping back in the day. There’s so much they could learn. “We should be doing riverboat tours.” Prince George is positioning itself as the hub of dozens of large-scale resource projects coming to northern BC, and Tano intends to be part of them. “There are so many exciting opportunities that will involve Prince George and involve Tano, and that includes the North Coast Transmission Line, the Sunrise Expansion Project, Enbridge’s $4-billion natural gas pipeline, and maybe we’ll be able to get involved in the UHNBC hospital expansion,” Salter said. “We started a new construction company about a month ago and hopefully that’s going to bring true economic reconciliation for the nation. They’ll be able to drive these projects and participate in them and benefit from them in new and different ways.” Salter also pointed to the Nilhts’i Ecoener wind farm project near Hixon, which is expected to bring more than $100 million in benefits to the Lheidli T’enneh over the duration of its 38-year contract to produce power for BC Hydro. “It’s really an exciting time,” Salter said. “I’m very lucky to be here. I tell everyone my plane landed at the right time and in the right place.”
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
SPORTS
UNBC Timberwolves add Kamloops goalkeeper DAN O’CONNOR UNBC Athletics
The UNBC Timberwolves have added another promising young goalkeeper to the fold ahead of the 2026 season now that Kamloops product Owen McMillan has committed to the Green and Gold. McMillan, a graduate of South Kamloops Secondary School, spent last season with Kamloops United FC. Now he’s ready to take the next step with the Timberwolves while pursuing a degree in business and his long-term goal to become a finance lawyer. ‘I love soccer because it gives me ambition for self-improvement,” said McMillan, who earned Honour Roll and Gold Cord status for academic achievement during his final year of high school. His path to UNBC has included working with South Kamloops head coach Mike Deccico and Kamloops United FC coach Darren Sarll, both of whom helped prepare him for the next chapter of his career. A visit to UNBC helped confirm that Prince George was the right fit. “The campus is very nice and the team energy is incredible,” said McMillan. McMillan was particularly impressed by the leadership of Timberwolves head coach Steve Simonson and the culture
within the Timberwolves dressing room, where he saw a group committed to pushing one another while maintaining a positive environment. “Steve is a terrific speaker and you can’t help but listen to and take in everything he says. And everybody on the team pushes each other to be better while also keeping a positive attitude,” said McMillan. For Simonson and the Timberwolves, McMillan represents another exciting addition to the program’s goalkeeping group, which includes second-year Owen Shum of Richmond and freshman Calum Culbert of Victoria. “Owen has slotted in seamlessly as a member of our goalkeeping team,” said Simonson. “He has an incredible work ethic, is extremely coachable and has a strong technical foundation in the position. In our preseason games he has demonstrated the potential to be a solid goalkeeper at the U SPORTS level in the years to come.” Away from the pitch, McMillan is fluent in French and can play the piano. The UNBC men open their 2026 season at home at Masich Place Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4 (8 p.m.) against the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack. That game will be preceded at 5:30 p.m. by the UNBC women’s soccer season-opener, also at Masich against TRU.
UNBC PHOTO
South Kamloops high school grad Owen McMillan has signed with the UNBC Timberwolves for the 2026 Canada West soccer season.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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ALEX WHITEHEAD PHOTO
Jenna Foreman of Prince George on her was to a fifth-place finish at the UCI Mountain Bike junior women’s downhill world championship in Val di Sole, Italy on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Downhill disaster averted, Foreman finishes fifth TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
A broken chain derailleur during her qualifying run at the UCI Mountain Bike Junior women’s Downhill in Val di Sole, Italy took away Jenna Foreman’s pedal power but she had the riding expertise to let gravity do its thing and take her to the bottom of the course quickly. She qualified 17th out of 34 riders, good enough for a top-20 position in Saturday’s race, and that was all the incentive the 16-year-old Prince George rider needed. Foreman was on top of her game in the race and placed fifth overall in the under-19 division as the top Canadian. She finished the course in 4:38.4, eight seconds off the medal podium. Tillie Boadle of Australia won it in 4:13.3, followed by Aletha Ostgaard of the United States (4:20.96) and thirdplace Indy Deavoll of New Zealand
(4:30.2). Tayte Proulx-Royd of Kelowna was seventh (4:40.0). Raoul Schneeberger of Switzerland won the junior men’s downhill. Julian Moutinho of Victoria was the top Canadian man in 27th place. Rhys Vath of Williams Lake was 31st, Jack McReadie of Whistler was 35th and Noah Miller of Vernon was 38th. This has been an outstanding summer for Foreman, a former BMX racer with the Supertrak BMX Club in Prince George. She won the BC downhill championship, was second in the junior national expert class and finished fourth at the Canadian Open in Whistler, racing against Canada’s fastest women. She’ll now prepare for the U.S. Open race, Sept. 11-13 in Park City, Utah. Foreman also plans to enter the World Cup downhill at Whistler, Sept. 25-27 and a World Cup event in Lake Placid, N.Y., Oct. 9-11.
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50 Big rackets 51 Pulled-back hairdo 54 Icelandic epic 55 Chang’s brother 56 “Andor” actor Diego -57 Optimistic 58 Tic-tac-toe loser 59 Mountain ht.
DOWN 1 Sea predator 2 Heath 3 Ad agcy. client 4 Debonair 5 Sheep call 6 Boxer Laila 7 Angelic light 8 Allayed
9 Severe decline 10 “Rule, Britannia!” composer 11 Espy 16 Aviv preceder 20 Mardi Gras wear 22 Computer brand 23 Exposes 25 “Shoo!”
26 -- tear (raging) 27 Hindmost parts 29 Boyfriend 31 Comic Gasteyer 32 Enjoy Aspen 34 June honorees 38 Ringo, for one 40 Analyze 42 Trigger’s rider
43 Baltic feeder 44 Queen of Carthage 45 Pinnacle 47 Biblical king 48 Aachen article 49 Serb or Croat 52 Musician Yoko 53 Private aid gp.
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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Life Events Janet Lynn Corrigan
May 17, 1951 - August 9, 2026 Janet Lynn Corrigan (Harmider) passed away peacefully. She was predeceased by her parents, Bernie and Nora Harmider, and her brother, Robert Snodgrass. Janet is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Corrigan her children, Mark Simpson, Bernadette Thompson (Jarvis), and Kaine Corrigan (Marce); and grandchildren, Keidis, Taya, and Eowyn. She leaves behind four siblings and a large extended family. She will be remembered for her love of travelling, nature, and ar s c talent. Janet requested no formal service to be held.
Winnifred Bernice Pineo July 2 , 1 36 - August 2 , 2026
In Loving Memory
Winnie passed away peacefully August 25, 2026 in her 91st year at the Prince George Hospice Home. Born in Dalhousie New Brunswick, Winnie was the daughter of the late Alli and Agnis Valdron. Winnie was a devoted wife to Ken for 67 years and loving mother to Sheldon.
Chester “Checker” Arp
Winnie is survived by her son, Sheldon and four nieces and four nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Ken (May 19, 2025), her sister Margaret (Apr 30, 2026) and two brothers. Winnie joined the RCAF where she met her husband Ken. Together they would serve in every province e cept . . . before settling in rince eorge, B.C. Winnie was a loving mother and wife who is now reunited with the love of her life Ken.
Raymond Emile Demily
August 3, 1926 - August 26, 2026 Raymond Demily passed away peacefully at the age of 100 on August 26, 2026 with his “little family” by his side. Ray is survived by his daughter Caren (Michael) Tobin, granddaughters Taylor Tobin (Jared Crossan) and Dallas (Jack) Burgart, his great granddaughter Keaton Burgart, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He will be missed by his fur grrrand-sons Mookie, Bodri, Jeter and Rezi. Ray is predeceased by his wife Wanda (2013). A funeral service was held on Wednesday, September 2nd at First Memorial Funeral Services-Lakewood Chapel Thank you to all who attended.
Winnie would like to thank her neighbours: a - For helping with driving and keeping company. Wayne - Clearing driveway when Sheldon was unavailable and bringing the paper on Wednesdays. Flossie and Dan - Keeping the lawn looking good. Special thank you to the sta at hospice for making her nal days comfortable. n lieu of owers, dona ons to Au iliary to niversity Hospital of orthern Bri sh Columbia or The rince eorge Hospice allia ve Care Society would be appreciated. A Celebra on of Life will be held in the future.
Honouring
those who have touched our lives email: frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.2441
July 12, 1962 – June 23, 2026 It is with deep sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Checker Arp on June 23, 2026, at the age of 63. Checker was predeceased by his loving parents, Bill and Irma Arp, and his brother, Jim Arp. He will be lovingly remembered by his sisters, Donna (Todd) Currie and Bev Arp; his brothers, Howard (Judy) Arp and Trever (Steph) Arp; as well as his many nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends. For many years, Checker was an integral part of the family business Papason Trucking. It is here that he was blessed to be working along side his brothers; notably driving Truck 0 . His dedica on and strong work ethic were greatly valued through the genera ons. Known as a true social butter y, Checker never met a stranger. Blessed with the gi of gab, he could strike up a conversa on with anyone and leave them smiling. His warm personality, quick wit, and friendly nature made him a joy to be around. Checker loved bowling and playing bingo in his hey day. He was very passionate about photography and was most de nitely an avid Canucks fan Checker was blessed to have traveled on two memorable vaca ons - the rst was his special love for Scotland enduring it s rich history and culture, secondly a trip across Canada on VIA Rail. Above all else, the children in his family brought him the greatest happiness. He cherished every moment spent with them and they in turn, adored their funloving Uncle Checker. His laughter, stories, and kind heart will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Forever loved, forever missed. A Celebra on of Life will be held on Sunday, August 30, 2026 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Pineview Community Hall – 6470 Bendixon Road, Prince George B.C.
LIFE EVENTS
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Delbert David “Dave” Bellamy May 16, 1941 - August 22, 2026
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Delbert David “Dave” Bellamy, at the age of 85, on August 22, 2026, at the Prince George Hospice House, surrounded by the love of his family. Dave was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, brother, uncle, teammate and friend. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife and soulmate of many years, Marian, and his children Eugene (Barbara), Gwen, Glenn (Donna), and Kerry, and his late son Kelly. He leaves behind a family he was immensely proud of: grandchildren Regina (Matt), Ryan, Leon (Stephanie), Melodee, Davis (Jamie), Kyla (Sanjot), Jamie (Shelby), Cody, Dallas (Michelle), Ronan, and Vivian; great-grandchildren Marshall, Delainey, Bryceson, Kaleb, Violet, and Austin; and his chosen grandchildren Liam and Trinity. Dave is also survived by his sisters Linda (Lawrence), Phyllis, and Reta; sister-in-law Carole; nephews Steve (Ann), Jason (Adrienne), Gary (Darlene), Richard, Darren (Chandra), and Jay; as well as numerous extended family members and lifelong friends. Dave was predeceased by his son Kelly; his granddaughter KatieMarie; his parents, Delbert and Katheleine; his sister Shirley; his brother Jack; his brother-in-law Bob; his nephew Tom; and many other family members and friends who were dear to him. Born in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Dave spent his early years on the family farm before moving with his family to Willow River in 1947. It was there, at a very young age, that he met Marian, the woman who would become his soulmate and lifelong partner. Dave developed his passion for hockey early. His first games were
played on a farm pond, where horse turds served as makeshift pucks. At 16, he began playing for the Prince George Mohawks, continuing for seven years. He could hardly wait until he turned 35 so he could join the old-timers. His love of the game never faded. Dave was a coach and executive with the Prince George Minor Hockey Association and was particularly proud of having coached his boys. One of his few regrets was not having had the opportunity to coach his daughter Gwen, whom he championed as one of the first two girls to play in Prince George minor hockey. His hockey career extended far beyond the rink. Dave travelled extensively to play in tournaments, often joining the rosters of other teams wherever an opportunity arose. Marian affectionately described him as “Have a hockey bag, will travel.” For Dave, hockey was as much about the friendships and adventures as it was about the game. For approximately 40 years, Dave was involved with the Rusty Nuts, a team he helped establish. He remained involved right up until his passing, recently turning over the management duties of a team that had become such an important part of his life. Dave’s working life was equally varied and entrepreneurial. He worked in the sawmill with his father and Uncle Ron, sold life insurance, drove a tow truck, and worked as a clerk for the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. He eventually entered the trucking business after purchasing two six-yard single-axle gravel trucks. Through hard work and determination, that small operation grew into a fleet and ultimately led to the incorporation of Coyote Transport in 1970. The business would continue to grow, expanding into log contracting, land development, and road building. Yet for all of Dave’s accomplishments, his greatest pride
was his family. No one was ever a stranger to Dave. He took a genuine interest in the people he met and was endlessly curious about the world around him. He could talk knowledgeably about an extraordinary range of subjects, and his curiosity often led to a story — which, in turn, usually provided an opportunity to exercise his wonderful sense of humour. Dave also had a legendary sweet tooth. His hockey buddies affectionately nicknamed him “O’Henry,” and one of his favourite annual traditions was preparing his Christmas chocolate order directly from the Rogers’ chocolate factory. Among all the places Dave loved, none held quite the same meaning as the family lake property. It was a place where family gathered, memories were made, and Dave could enjoy some of the things he valued most: good company, conversation, laughter, and time together. Dave lived a full life built around family, friendships, hard work, hockey, curiosity, humour, and adventure. He had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcome and valued. His stories, his laughter, his generosity, and his unmistakable presence will be deeply missed. Viewing was held August 28, 2026, 4 - 6 pm at Assman’s Funeral Chapel. A service and remembrance of Dave’s life will be held September 16, 2026, 1 pm at the Coast Prince George Hotel. Dave and his family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, caregivers, and staff at UHNBC and Prince George Hospice House for the compassion, care, and kindness they provided to Dave and his family.
Ginette Louise Patenaude une 3,
- August
,
Ginette Louise Patenaude, 5 , of Prince George, BC passed away in hospice surrounded by her family on August , . he was born in Port Alberni, BC to her parents, Denise and Harvey and moved to Prince George, BC at the age of 33. t s here, she met her partner Dale and worked at ortis BC. he loved spending time with her family and enjoying ice cold beverages on her deck. he is survived by her husband, Dale; her brothers, Ron (Anne) and Randy (Angie); her daughter, Lyndsey (Cliff) and her many grandchildren. Her celebration of life details will be announced soon.
John Walter Randahl
August 29, 1944 - August 13, 2026 It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of John Randahl, on Aug the 13th, 2026. He passed away peacefully. Born Aug 29, 1944, he leaves behind his common law wife, Alice Nieson. His children Darrel Randahl (Brenda), Les Randahl (Cecilia) and Penny Randahl. His grandchildren, Levi, Kristina, Keith, Nick, essica, Samantha, Sheldon, Sydney and Veronica. His great grandkids Cyrus, Richie, Harlee and Ryker. ohn loved the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He loved spending time with his kids. He worked hard all his life and gave his children a happy upbringing. We will always remember him, his door was always open to neighborhood kids that came around as we grew up. You will be missed Dad, and now your with John John again, rest in peace, n lieu of flowers, Alice re uested donate to the SPCA, as they loved their pets throughout the years.
Classifieds
44
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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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DEVELOPMENT OF A PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN Reference No. TMW-0004-27-32 As per the Integrated Pest Management Act of British Columbia, Section 61(1) this is a public notification that: TELUS Communications Inc./Terrion is renewing an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) under the BC Integrated Pest Management Act and Regulation. TELUS manages property in the Province of BC which includes communications towers, network buildings and rights-of-way for above and below ground operations. The plan is described to ensure effective and safe control for invasive weeds and other undesirable vegetation which will reduce fire hazards, protect telecommunications equipment, and ensure communications are not jeopardized while providing safe working conditions. This is a province-wide program with sites located in all regions of the province, the proposed term of this program is from March 2027 to March 2032. Our approach is to promptly assess sites and use selective techniques to enhance our efforts towards reducing the number of instances that may require vegetation control. Methods may include mechanical, manual, cultural, and/or herbicide ground applications. These select treatment applications may also be used in accordance with the Weed Control Act by orders from the BC Ministry or local jurisdictional authorities. Herbicides will be applied selectively by backpack sprayers (foliar and soil applications) and trucks or ATVs with hand wands (foliar applications). Herbicide use will be limited to specific vegetation control and invasive species management needs within designated areas. The use of pesticides is intended within the area to which the IPMP applies. • Herbicide active ingredients proposed under this program include: glyphosate, aminopyralid, imazapyr, metsulfuron-methyl, triclopyr, saflufenacil, aminocyclopyrachlor, indaziflam, flumioxazin, pyroxasulfone, propyzamide, 2,4 D, fluroxypyr, florpyrauxifen, flazasulfuron, acetic acid • Trade names: Vision Max, Milestone, Arsenal Powerline, Clearview, Garlon XRT, Detail, Navius VM, Esplanade SC, Torpedo EZ, Kerb SC, 2,4 D, Octtain XL, Rinskor, Longrun, Munger Horticultural Vinegar Plus The IPMP document may be viewed at: www.e-qwest.ca Maps available upon request. For more information, please contact the IPM agent, E-Qwest Consulting Ltd. at email clover.eqwest@gmail.com A person wishing to contribute information about a proposed treatment site, relevant to the development of the Pest Management Plan, may send copies of the information to the applicant at the address above within 30 days of the publication of this notice.
MINES ACT PERMIT APPLICATION MINES ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT APPROVING THE PROPOSED MINE PLAN AND RECLAMATION PROGRAM FOR A QUARRY OPERATION Take notice that Vitreo Minerals Ltd. has filed with the Chief Permi ng O cer pursuant to the Health, Safety an eclamation Co e or ines in ritis Colum ia, a proposed mine plan together with a program for the protection and reclamation of land and watercourses related to the Angus Project, a proposed silica sand mining operation, located near Bear Lake:
Claim
um ers
ineral Titles a um er Cari oo istrict
C
A copy of the permit application, including supporting documentation, is available for viewing at the Vitreo Minerals Ltd. o ce, located at 110-1323 th Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L3L6. Any person affected by or interested in this program has a s from the date of publication to make written representation to: Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals mmd-princegeorge gov.bc.ca Application information and instructions for submi ng comments to the Ministry are also available at: https://www.gov.bc.ca/minesengagement
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
COURT BAILIFF SALE NORTH CENTRAL BAILIFFS LTD. e al aili s a
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTIFICATION DU PUBLIC REDWOOD INFRASTRUCTURE LP PROPOSED 32 METER MONOPOLE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER INSTALLATION W6478
REDWOOD INFRASTRUCTURE LP - PROJET D’INSTALLATION D’UNE TOUR DE TELECOMMUNICATION SANS FIL MONOPOLE DE 32 MÉTRES W6478
Location: 3033-3055 McGill Crescent, Prince George, BC
ADRESSE: 3033 - 3033 - 3055 McGill Crescent, Prince George, BC
LOCATION DESCRIPTION: The
EMPLACEMENT : La tour proposée
proposed tower will be located at the southeast corner of the property.
Objective: The proposed 32m monopole tower will improve wireless coverage and provide fast, reliable wireless voice and data services in the City of Prince Geroge.
sera située au coin sud-est de la propriété. La tour proposée sera située au coin sud-est de la propriété.
OBJECTIF : La tour monopole proposée de 32 m améliorera la couverture sans fil et offrira des services vocaux et de données sans fil rapides et fiables dans la ville de Prince George.
DETAILS: The installation will be located within a chain-link fenced compound. The compound will include a walkin equipment cabinet housing radio equipment, tools, manuals, and a first aid kit.
DÉTAILS : L’installation sera située à
PUBLIC CONSULTATION: With respect
LA CONSULTATION PUBLIQUE : En ce qui concerne cette question, le public est invité à fournir des commentaires écrits ou à demander des informations supplémentaires avant le 3 octobre 2026, au contact indiqué ci-dessous. Veuillez inclure une adresse de retour.
to this matter, the public is invited to provide written comments or request additional information by October 3, 2026, to the contact shown below. Please include a return address.
Redwood Infrastructure LP CONTACT: Tamera Mills MAILING ADDRESS: 1055-409 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 PHONE NUMBER: 604-620-0877 EMAIL: publicconsultation@cypresslandservices.com
45
l’intérieur d’un enclos clôturé en mailles de chaîne. L’enclos comprendra une armoire d’équipement accessible à pied abritant l’équipement radio, des outils, des manuels et une trousse de premier soins.
The Court Bailiff offers FOR SALE BY TENDER, the interest of Stonewater Ventures (No 168) Ltd., et al, Lynette Dianne Hebert, Kris Sinan Tasci, Scott Yaworski and Dennis Ramsey, the Judgment Debtors, in the following goods (including but not limited to selling the business as a going concern/turn key): Multiple Assets – INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO (ATV’S, BOAT, DUMP TRAILER, 2015 CHEVROLET) SHARES
Call 250.562.2441
To View contact North Central Bailiffs Ltd. 250 - 491-1033. Sale is subject to cancellation or adjournment without notice. Sealed bids will be accepted on the unit until Sept 28th – Oct. 2nd, 2026. Goods to be sold as is where is. Bidder takes responsibility to ensure they are satisfied with the description of unit/goods being sold. North Central Bailiffs Ltd. is not responsible for determining the correct description. Terms of sale: Immediate full payment upon successful bid, plus sales tax.
to place your Classified Ad
e al aili s a North Central Bailiffs Ltd. Court Bailiff Jenn M.
Redwood Infrastructure LP
CONTACT : Tamera Mills ADRESSE POSTALE : 1055-409 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2 NUMÉRO DE TÉLÉPHONE : 604-620-0877 COURRIEL : publicconsultation@cypresslandservices.com
Dunkley Lumber Ltd. Forest era o s a Dunkley Lumber’s Forest Operations Map DLL A18160 2026-3 is open for public re iew and comment from September 3, 2026 – October 3, 2026.
REDWOOD TOWER
Call 250.562.2441 to place your Classified Ad PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
GET NOTICED
Use link below, or in person by appointment Mon-Fri 9am4pm. Contact the Dunkley Lumber forestry department at the email or phone number below in order to schedule an appointment. 1 000 Dunkley Rd, Hixon, BC, V0K 1S1. This FOM is applicable for 3 years. It may be relied upon to apply for a cu ng permit or road permit, or to har est a cutblock or construct a road that is displayed on the FOM.
Add photos to 250-998-4421 your Classified adPLEASE fom@dunkleylumber.com to sell your item RECYCLE s s a li faster. THIS
NEWSPAPER
e s
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
* On Sept. 7, 1776, the American • On Sept. craft 7, 1776, the American submersible Turtle submersible Turtle attempted to attempted tocraft attach a time bomb attachhull a time to the hull of Britto the of bomb British Admiral ish Admiral Richard Howe’s Eagle, flagship, Richard Howe’s flagship, Eagle,York in New York Harbor, marking in New Harbor, marking the the first use of a submarine in warfare. first use of a submarine in warfare. • OnSept. Sept.8,8,1664, 1664, Dutch Dutch Gover* On 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 (March 21 to April 19) As tensions ease subjects refused support. on the home front,their you can onceNew again Amsterdam’s name wasworkplace. changed toEarly focus on changes in the New York honorworked of the out. DukeStability of difficulties areinsoon York,as who organized itsare capture. returns adjustments made. • On Sept. 9, 1939, moviegoers at the TAURUS (April in 20Riverside, to May 20) A new Fox Theater California, romance tests to the Bovine’s were treated anunattached unexpected screenpatience to the limit. But Venus ing of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone still with rules Taurean expect to thethe Wind,” shownheart, by theso theater manfindager yourself trying hardwhile to make this as a second feature producrelationship work. er David O. Selznick observed their reactions from the back of the theater. GEMINI (Maywas 21released to Junea20) a The movie few It’s months good time to consider home-related later. purchases. But shop around carefully for • On price, Sept. 10, 1960, Hurricane Donthe best whether it’s a new house na struck theor Florida Keys as afor Categofor the family a new hose the ry 4 storm. The devastating hurricane garden. ultimately killed more than 350 people along its full path, including more than 150 in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, and the name “Donna” was later retired. • On Sept. 11, 1971, teen idol Donny Osmond earned his first solo No. 1 hit with “Go Away Little Girl.” For years afterward, the singer admitted he would “apologize for my career, for all of the cheesy music I was a part of,” but eventually came to terms with it and said to himself that the music “was great for what it was, people loved it, it was incredibly successful — why should I feel bad?” • On Sept. 12, 1952, residents of Flatwoods, West Virginia, while investigating a possible UFO crash, encountered a creature they described as 10 feet tall with glowing eyes and claw-like hands. Skeptics, however, dismissed their “monster” as likely an owl. • On Sept. 13, 2007, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which defined the rights of Indigenous peoples to their respective ways of life and prohibited discrimination against
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant hoped to resist the English but wasn’t a popular ruler, and his subjects refused their support. New Amsterdam’s name was changed to New York in honor of the Duke of York, who organized its capture. * On Sept. 9, 1939, moviegoers at the Fox Theater in Riverside, California, were treated to an
unexpected screening of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind,” shown by the theater manager as a second feature while producer David O. Selznick observed their reactions from the back of the theater. The movie was released a few months later. * On Sept. 10, 1960, Hurricane Donna struck the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm. The devastating hurricane ultimately killed more than 350 people 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?”
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A contentious family member seems intent on creating problems. Best advice: Avoid stepping in until you know more about the origins of this domestic disagreement.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) You should soon be hearing some positive feedback on a recent business move. Meanwhile, an old family problem recurs, but this time, you’ll know how to handle it better.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your merrier aspect continues to dominate and attract folks who rarely see this side of you. Some serious new romancing could develop out of all this cheeriness.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) A recent job-related move proves to be far more successful than you could’ve imagined. Look for continued beneficial fallout. Even your critics have something nice to say!
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Some surprising statements shed light on the problem that caused a once-warm relationship to cool off. Use this newly won knowledge to help turn things around.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You’re always concerned about the well-being of others. It’s time that you put some of this concern into your own health situation, especially where it involves nutrition.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Ease up and stop driving yourself to finish a certain project on a deadline that’s no longer realistic. Your superiors will be open to requests for an extension. Ask for it.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your spiritual side is especially strong at this time. Let yourself be guided by it into deeper contemplation of aspects about yourself that you’d like to understand better.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Just when you thought your life had finally stabilized, along comes another change that needs to be addressed. Someone you trust can help you deal with it successfully.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
Homes & Living
47
As Autumn Arrives, Keep Unwanted Pests Outside As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to fall, homeowners aren’t the only ones preparing for winter. Mice, spiders, insects and other unwanted pests are also looking for somewhere warm and sheltered to spend the colder months — and your home can look like an inviting destination. The good news is that a little autumn preparation can make your home considerably less attractive to these uninvited guests. One of the best places to start is outside. Walk around your home and inspect the foundation for cracks, holes and other potential entry points. Pay particular attention to areas where pipes, cables and utility lines enter the house. Mice can squeeze through surprisingly small openings, so
seal gaps with appropriate materials. For areas vulnerable to chewing, metal mesh or steel wool can provide additional protection. Doors and windows deserve attention as well. Check weatherstripping around exterior doors and replace damaged or worn seals. A properly fitted door sweep can close the gap beneath a door and keep both rodents and insects outside. Make sure window screens are intact, particularly on basement windows. The garage is another common entry point. Keep the door closed when it isn’t being used and inspect the seal along the bottom and sides. Don’t overlook sheds and other outbuildings, either. Rodents that establish themselves there may eventually find their way into the house. Outside, autumn cleanup can also
reduce pest problems. Keep leaves, grass clippings and other organic debris from accumulating against the foundation. Trim shrubs and branches away from the house and avoid creating piles of lumber or other materials where rodents can hide. Firewood requires particular attention. Store it off the ground and, whenever possible, away from the exterior walls. Bringing firewood directly into the house can sometimes mean bringing insects along with it. Inside, eliminate easy sources of food and water. Store cereal, flour, pet food and other dry goods in sealed containers. Keep garbage covered and clean up crumbs and spills promptly. Repair leaking faucets or pipes, clean clogged gutters and make sure water drains away from the foundation.
Preventing an infestation is usually easier than dealing with one. A few hours spent sealing, cleaning and inspecting your home this autumn could save considerable time and frustration when winter arrives.
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SPRING LOT SWEEPING SUNTREE Landscaping LTD. New logo, same top-notch service
Russ Hill • 250.614.4833
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ENERGY REALTY
NEW TOWNHOUSE LISTING One of the nicest units in Ospika Estates — complete with central air conditioning! This 3-bedroom, 2-bath townhouse was fully updated just 4 years ago.
CUSTOM KITCHEN
#309 - 2550 S OSPIKA BLVD MLS# R3151976
OFFERED AT ONLY
$359,900
CONTACT ME TODAY!
DON GOWAN 778.349.4026
don.gowan@century21.ca
MLS# R3145052
908 - 1501 QEENSWAY ST $144,500
106-3777 MASSEY DR., $179,900
#206-2217 REGENTS CRES., $209,900
MLS# R3149605
MLS# R3136908
MLS# R3125085
2944 MEYER RD. $324,900 MLS# R3120837
2697 ABBOTT CRES., $455,900 MLS# R3116319
1684 10TH AVE., $649,900 MLS# R3131228
5089 HEADLAND HGTS $869,900
D SOL T GUS U A IN 2328-2330 OAK ST., $389,900
MLS# R3116858
7788 THOMPSON DR. $535,000 MLS# R3123294
7491 SOUTHRIDGE AVE $669,000 MLS# R3128318
5101 HEADLAND HGTS $889,900
Amit Luthra Realtor® 250-981-9090
Grace Purdey Realtor® 250-612-2238
MLS# R3146654
D SOL UST G U IN A
Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228
Joy Paul Realtor® 778-681-8474
MLS# R3147042
FOR SALE
8487 PETER RD. $269,900
2066 ROSS CRES., $260,000
MLS# R3137994
MLS# R3156720
38 RESIDENTIAL LOTS STARTING AT $250,000 $200,000
G
DIN N E P 905 LA SALLE AVE. $399,900
288 S NICHOLSON ST., $399,900
1753 KENWOOD ST., $419,000
MLS# R3132235
MLS# R3155158
MLS# R3146147
5559 HEYER RD., $599,900
5836 TRENT DR. $609,900
MLS# R3141274
IN D L SO LY JU 343-345 QUINN ST., $669,900
MLS# R3157274
7756 N. NECHAKO RD. $899,900
MLS# R3138631
1716 SHADY VALLEY RD., $599,900 MLS# R3149547
PRE-REGISTER AT www.TynerRidgeEstates.ca
SOLD SOLD
MLS# R3126409
D SOL LY IN JU 7825 BEAVER RD. $1,099,990
7614 ST. ANDREW CRT,. $824,900 MLS# R3121976
SOLD
SOLD SOLD
SOLD
SOLD SOLD SOLD
2870 GREENFOREST CRES. $680,000
SOLD SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
D SOL UST G U IN A
Zaviery Dodd Realtor® 250-649-8097
SOLD
MLS# R3151740
*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
MLS# R3153619
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
1
out .95% FULL SERVICE MLS LISTING* Check full listing SERVICE information FREE FULL AT A at MARKET FAIR PRICE MaxSave.ca EVALUATION
SOLD
250-562-6228
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN
SOLD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
SOLD
48
LOTS START AT $230,000 WITH VIEW AND GREENBELT LOTS AVAILABLE.. AVAILABLE. LOTS FOR SALE 2746 PINE ST., $45,000 - MLS $3140749 LOT 2 COLUMBIA RD - 4.15 AC $379,900 - MLS R3152769 LOT 28 5314 HEADLANDS HTS., $339,900 - MLS R3119081
13800 BIG FIR RD., $1,399,900
Lot 6, WESTERN PROPERTIES $219,900 - MLS R2837586 Lot 9, WESTERN PROPERTIES $219,900 - MLSR2837613