Tuesday, January 22, 2019 | Your community newspaper since 1916
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From left, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom, along with Brandon Sutter, Markus Granlund, Elias Pettersson, Alex Edler and Tyler Motte paid a visit to B.C. Children’s Hospital on Monday to see Prince George teen Brendan “Buck” McKinnon and his parents, Krystel McKinnon and Darren Lewis. Buck is in hospital due to complications from severe cerebral palsy and dystonia.
Canucks stop in on Buck Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
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Prince George boy in treatment at B.C. Children’s Hospital got some unusual visitors Monday. Six members of the Vancouver Canucks dropped in to say hello to Brendan McKinnon, a popular local teen known as Buck to his friends and family. Buck’s parents, Krystel McKinnon and Darren Lewis, also got to enjoy the moment with their son, who lives with severe cerebral palsy and an accompanying condition called dystonia.
“Buck has been in and out of B.C. Children’s Hospital fighting a severe resilient spinal infection post-scoliosis surgery two and a half years ago,” said McKinnon. “His most recent surgery was removal of the hardware.” Recovering in the surgical ward, “Buck was so excited” to see the six players of the Vancouver Canucks came in to pay him a visit, gifting him with autographs and a plush souvenir of Canucks mascot Finn. The players in the contingent were enough to form an entire line, including starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom, along with Brandon Sutter, Markus Granlund, Elias Pettersson, Alex Edler and Tyler Motte.
For a moment in time it makes you forget you’re sick and brings happiness in a not so happy time. — Krystel McKinnon It’s not the first time Canucks players have dropped in on Buck at B.C. Children’s Hospital on his visits to the Vancouver facility. “We got to share with them the time Finn gave Buck Daniel Seden’s game-winning overtime puck, that tied Markus Näslund
for most goals ever by a Vancouver Canuck,” McKinnon said. The record-breaking Sedin was along for that adventure. It’s not every day a celebrity wanders the B.C. Children’s Hospital hallways. A lot of stress and work on profound healing is the normal course of the day there. So when some NHL stars drop in, does it help the mood of the patients (and their loved ones)? “It really does,” McKinnon said. “For a moment in time it makes you forget you’re sick and brings happiness in a not so happy time. It makes you feel important that such a famous group of men would take time out of their day just to say hello.”
City employees help track down stolen property
Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre set to open Citizen staff A long awaited goal will be realized on Saturday when the Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre opens its doors. “This facility provides is a great new opportunity for the residents of Vanderhoof and the Nechako Valley,” Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen said. “The hard work of many residents over a period of 25 years as well as the great financial support of government, neighbouring communities, businesses and individuals have made our pool a reality,” he added. “Our town has been given a new avenue of recreation which will be very positive in attracting and retaining residents to our valley.” Constructed at a cost of $12 million, the facility has a six-lane 25-metre lap pool, a 1,500 squarefoot leisure pool and a 35-person hot tub, along with a sauna and aquatic climbing wall. All pools are equipped with ramp entry. Change rooms include a large universal change area with four family shower and change stalls, three dry change stalls and a fully accessible change room/washroom equipped with an overhead lift. There are also women’s and men’s change rooms, which were
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Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca
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The interior of the new Vanderhoof Aquatic Centre. designed with accessibility in mind. The YMCA of Northern B.C. will manage the pool. “I want to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the District of Vanderhoof, mayor and council, for building this amazing facility which I have no doubt will be a place for so many community members to get healthy and active,
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learn safety in the water while having so much fun,” said YMCA-NBC CEO Amanda Alexander. Greyback Construction was the general contractor on the project and the architectural designed was provided by Carscadden Architects. The federal government contributed $6 million to the project,
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while a $3 million loan, $1.4 million in gas tax funds, $1 million from the Vanderhoof Community Forest and $600,000 raised by the community covers the rest. The project won 77 per cent support when a referendum was held in February 2013. An opening ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
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city employee and three co-workers played a key role in apprehending a Dawson Creek man suspected of being behind the wheel of a stolen pickup truck carrying a stolen snowmobile. Tyler Lee Calliou, 31, is in custody and faces six charges after the employee recognized the vehicle from a posting on social media, Prince George RCMP said Monday. “Without this information, the suspect may not have been apprehended and the stolen property likely would not have been returned to the rightful owners,” Cpl. Craig Douglass said. RCMP said the four city personnel worked together to provide police with the details that allowed police to track down the suspect. Calliou was arrested on Thursday morning on West Williams Road, just south of Red Rock. — see DRUGS, page 3
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