Wednesday, September 5, 2018 | Your community newspaper since 1916
Two regional volunteers honoured Citizen staff
CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
School back in session
School zones like this one along Vanier Drive in front of Westwood Elementary will be in effect today in Prince George as children return to classes.
Police searching for driver of van following suspicious incident Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca A pair of school children received a scare from a driver in the College Heights area over the weekend. Police are investigating and called the situation suspicious. Mounties were alerted on Saturday at about 4:45 p.m. “Police were advised that a 16-yearold girl and an 11-year-old boy were followed by a man in a white van in the St. Mark Crescent area,” said Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Craig
Douglass. “Both children ran to a residence known to them and reported the incident.” Officers attended the area and made patrols for vehicles matching the description, however the vehicle was not located. However, police got some descriptions on which to proceed and they hope the public can help bring them closer to the person of interest. “The vehicle was described as a white van with an ‘N’ sign on the back. No license plate, make or model was obtained,” said Douglass. “The driver was described as a South Asian male,
approximately 35 to 40 years old with a slim build. Investigators would like to speak to the person or persons involved.” The Prince George RCMP would like to remind parents to speak to their children about personal safety. Douglass recommended the RCMP’s Street Proofing website for more information. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www. pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca (English only). You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers.
Safety tips for children • Know your home address and landline phone number. • Know how to contact your parents on their cell phones or at work. • Know how and when to call 911 in an emergency from a landline phone and from a cell phone. • Establish a secret password for your family. This should be used in emergencies to identify a safe person other than their parent or caregiver. • Play “what if” games with younger children to reinforce these safety messages. • If possible, give your child a cell phone when they are away from home. • Children and teens should play and walk to places with a buddy. If they become separated or lost, they should tell someone with a name tag (for e.g. a cashier or security guard) immediately. If there is no one with a name tag, preferably they should tell a female. • Avoid long conversations with strangers. If someone you do not know asks you personal questions – like “Where do you live?” – do not answer. Run away or leave the situation immediately.
Today’s Weather Hi +13° Low +6° See page 2 for more details and short-term forecasts
LOCAL HOROSCOPE NEWS OPINION MONEY
1-3 2 4-5,7 6 8
• It’s OK to say no to adults who ask you to do something for them, such as: help them find a lost pet, join them in an activity or game, or give them directions. • Never walk with or accept a ride, money or gifts from strangers or even someone you may know, without checking with your parents. Keep a safe distance (two arm lengths) from strangers and cars that approach you. • Run to a safe location like an open store. • If a vehicle is involved, try to take notes describing the suspicious vehicle, license plate and the stranger’s description. Call 911 for help • If you are taking a public bus, always sit near the bus driver. • Reduce the use of headphones or use of electronic devices that can distract you from your surroundings when you are walking. • If a person tries to grab you: scream loudly, make a lot of noise, and try to create a disturbance (e.g. knock things over, scatter belongings, kick wildly). Shout, “Help, this person is not my parent!” — Source: Prince George RCMP
SPORTS A&E COMICS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS
9-10 11-12 12 12 13-16
Nike runs into controversy MONEY 8
www.pgcitizen.ca
Two of the region’s prolific community helpers will receive the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Gov-Gen. Julie Payette and B.C. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin will present 40 of these citations to British Columbians at a ceremony this week. “The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields,” said a spokesperson from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The honourees of nearest proximity are Surinderpal Rathor of Williams Lake and Liz (Kathleen) Jones of 108 Mile Ranch. According to information from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Rathor has been with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for 40 years in addition to volunteering with the City of Williams Lake and the Indo-Canadian community. He participates in public fundraising events, has been a member of the local health board, and founded the Community Policing Committee. Over the past 15 years, Jones has been the local coordinator for the Emergency Support Services of 100 Mile House. During the 2017 wildfires, she led her dedicated team of volunteers by example and ensured that evacuees had access to temporary shelter, food and clothing. Another northerner, Donna Ziegler of Terrace, will be recognized at the ceremony for her work on behalf of the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Rotary Club and her church. When a school music program faced funding cuts, she started the Dare To Dream Foundation so students could participate in music classes and the school band. All recipients of this year’s awards will be publicly honoured at an event at Government House in Victoria on Thursday. To earn a Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, candidates must have demonstrated an exemplary commitment through their dedicated volunteerism. The medal is awarded to individuals only, not to groups or couples. Non-Canadians are eligible if their contributions have brought benefit or honour to Canadians or to Canada. There is no deadline for submissions. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
TEDx speakers named for UNBC event Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff The first two names have been announced for Prince George’s next TEDx event. One will be one of the featured keynote speakers and the second is the event’s master of ceremonies. The event is set for Nov. 17 at UNBC’s Canfor Theatre. “TEDxUNBC will be showcasing Shawn Caldera as our first speaker and Wil Fundal as our MC,” said Leah Labarrere, president of the TEDx organizing committee for the UNBC event. “This year’s speakers will address their version of Destination: Future. More speakers will be announced weekly on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.” TED Talks are carefully selected speeches presented by authorities in their field. TEDx events are those operated by independent local organizations but in conjunction with the worldwide TED organization. “At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection,” said Labarrere. “TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today’s leading thinkers and doers.” “Caldera is the owner and operator of Volcanic Gaming, one of the first Esports startups in Western Canada,” according to event organizers. “He also teaches youth and teens at the College of New Caledonia as an instructor for programming and game design.” — see FUNDAL, page 3
Contact Us
Newsstand $2.00 incl. tax Home Delivered 95¢/day
CLASSIFIED: 250-562-6666 READER SALES: 250-562-3301 SWITCHBOARD: 250-562-2441
0
58307
00200
5