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Friday, January 11, 2019 | Your community newspaper since 1916

CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

I never thought it was such a bad little tree Ian Hoag, front, and Devon Chambers chip up Christmas trees in the Exhibition Grounds parking lot on Thursday. The public dropped off the trees last Sunday for mulching. The mulch will be used for ground cover in city parks and around trees to help with suppressing weed growth and maintaining moisture.

Not too late to get flu shot Prices rise, sales drop Citizen staff

for P.G. houses Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca Single-family homes sold for $350,713 on average in Prince George over the course of 2018, according to year-end B.C. Northern Real Estate numbers issued Thursday. That amounts to a $31,546 increase over the average for 2017 but was offset by a drop in the number of sales, which declined by 103 transactions to 917. As a result, total activity on that front went down by $3.9 million to $321.6 million. Real estate agent Bob Quinlan said the trends are a sign people are willing to pay for what they want but not necessarily settling for something less than what they’re seeking. He added that there has been a move towards higher density – townhouses and condominiums. New homes appeared to be a main driver. According to year-end Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation numbers, the 10 new homes sold in December went for an average of $575,890, compared to $462,276 on 27 sales for the same month in 2017. Although starts on new homes remained steady at 194, compared to 190 over 2017, the number completed stood at 155, down from 177 over 2017. Canadian Home Builders AssociationNorthern B.C. treasurer Jody Tindal pinned the decline on a longer winter last year and a strain on the availability of trades starting in the summer. “This seems to be easing now with everyone getting caught up with the milder weather so far this winter,” said Tindal, who operates Belledune Homes. She said mutiple-family was the big winner in 2018 – 206 units were started and 161 completed in 2018, up from 67 starts and 69 completions over 2017 – and added that more of those types of projects are expected to start in 2019. “Single family home starts should remain flat for 2019 given the rising costs and financing challenges, but the rental market will see some relief with some of these great projects finishing up,” Tindal said. Quinlan noted plenty of activity in terms

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of commercial sales during the latter part of 2018 and took that to be a sign of confidence in the local economy. As well, he said interest rates will rise only marginally in 2019. Here’s a further look at the BCNREB numbers: The average price for a house on acreage stood at $451,945, an annual increase of $49,692. Looking at properties of all types, 1,400 worth $444.9 million exchanged hands in 2018, compared with 1,562 properties worth $461.3 million in 2017. West of Central Street, half of the 270 single-family homes sold in 2018 sold for less than $312,500. As well, 21 apartment units and 47 townhouses changed hands in 2018. As of Dec. 31, there were 26 single-family homes available through the Multiple Listing Service in this area of the city, which is unchanged from the 26 at the same time last year. East of Central Street, 179 single-family homes sold for a median value of $254,000 while 55 apartment units, 24 half-duplexes and 22 townhouses sold in 2018. At the end of December, there were 29 single-family homes available for sale in that area, compared with 25 at the end of 2017. In the northern part of the city, of the 195 single-family homes sold, half sold for less than $355,000. Twenty-five homes on acreage, 18 manufactured homes in parks and a further 56 manufactured homes on land sold in 2018. As of Dec. 31, there were 37 single-family homes available for sale in that area, compared with 25 at the end of 2017. In the southwest, half of the 264 singlefamily homes sold in 2018 sold for less than $425,000. As well, 12 half-duplexes, 23 townhouses, 10 homes on acreage, 17 manufactured homes in parks and a further four manufactured homes on land sold in 2018. At year-end, there were 54 single-family homes available for sale through MLS in the southwest sector, compared with the 56 at the end of 2017. Overall, there were 462 properties on the MLS, compared to 448 at the end of 2017.

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With influenza season well underway, Northern Health is reminding residents that it is not too late to get immunized against the flu. As in other parts of the province, influenza and other viruses common at this time of year are circulating. Surveillance from health care visits and lab confirmations show influenza activity on the rise in Northern B.C. “We know that viruses spread more easily during peak season for these illnesses and that some people such as seniors and people of any age with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for complications,” said Northern Health medical health officer Dr. Rakel Kling. “It’s not too late for people to get the flu shot, which this year has been shown to be a good match with the strains of the virus in circulation.” The best way to reduce your risk of, or avoid, getting the flu is ongoing prevention. Here are some tips to help protect yourself and your loved ones: • Get the flu shot: protective effects from the flu shot occur approximately two weeks after receiving it. The BC Centre for Disease Control has noted the main kind of flu found this year is included in this year’s vaccine, meaning people will be better protected if they are vaccinated. Flu shots are available from local health units, many pharmacies, or through your primary care provider; check Immunize BC’s website for details

• People at high risk of complications who experience influenza-like illness should seek medical care without delay. Their doctor may want to prescribe a drug that must be given early to be effective. • Get plenty of rest and fluids if you’re sick with influenza-like illness. Most people will recover on their own at home. Seek medical care if there is trouble breathing, pain in the chest or a high fever that does not get better after three to four days. • Staying home if you’re sick: you don’t want to spread the flu to your classmates, colleagues, or friends. Make sure to rest and get better before returning to work or school. • Practicing frequent and proper hand hygiene: use alcohol based hand sanitizer regularly and make sure to wash your hands appropriately (wet your hands, scrub with soap for 20 seconds, rinse off your hands, dry your hands thoroughly, and use the paper towel to open and close the door). • Observing coughing and sneezing etiquette: cough or sneeze into your shoulder, not onto your hand or in the air. Make sure to wash your hands after. If you have questions about your illness, please contact your family physician, call HealthLink BC at 811, or visit healthlinkbc. ca. Influenza symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, extreme tiredness and cough. Even healthy people can get sick from the flu. More information about influenza can be found at; www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthtopics/hw122012.

Deal reached in pipeline impasse Amy SMART Citizen news service SMITHERS — Hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation have reached a deal with the RCMP to allow a natural gas company access across a bridge that had been blocked in their territory. Following several hours of meetings, Chief Na’Moks told reporters Thursday that the agreement is between the chiefs and the RCMP to ensure the safety of the First Nation’s members after 14 arrests were made on Monday when a court injunction was enforced by police. He said representatives from Coastal GasLink were invited to the meeting to ensure they are on the same page, but em-

PM pleased to see LNG tension easing

See page 2 for more details and short-term forecasts

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phasized it is not a deal with the company and the hereditary chiefs are opposed to a pipeline project planned on their territory. “One of the barriers will be taken down, but that does not mean we support this project,” he said. “It must be reiterated, we are adamantly opposed to this proposed project and that will never change, but we are here to ensure the safety of our people.” Coastal GasLink president Rick Gateman said the company can do its work as a result of the meeting. “I can say that our discussions were extremely respectful and extremely productive,” Gateman said. — see ‘WE LOOK FORWARD, page 3

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