Prince George Citizen Thursday February 12, 2026

Mayor sees populaton growth as a sign of things to come

There was a time when planners thought the city would hit 180K by the mid-1990s

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Prince George may be bigger than most people think — Statistics Canada estimates that the city’s census metropolitan area (CMA) has a population of 100,127.

“In my heart, I always knew it was going to happen,” said Mayor Simon Yu. “Reaching 100,000 has reaffirmed my conviction that Prince George is the centre, the most important industrial hub for BC.”

It is worth noting that the CMA includes the City of Prince George and portions of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (subdivisions A, C, D, and F) and Fort George (Shelley) 2.

According to the report, the population of the city itself is 76,708. Also, the data is preliminary and has to be confirmed by the 2026 census.

Regardless, this is a milestone for the city, albeit one that was planned to happen much sooner.

According to the City of Prince George, from the 1940s to the 1980s, the population nearly doubled every decade, and by 1981 Prince George was the seventh-largest city in British Columbia, one of only two outside Metro Vancouver.

Because of this growth, driven by industrial development and an influx of natural resource jobs at the time, city planners expected the population to hit 185,000 by 2012. By the 1980s, however, population growth began to slow as the economic boom tapered off.

Now, more than four decades later, Prince George has quietly passed the 100,000 mark.

While he was excited to reach the milestone, Yu said it arrived much later than expected.

“It’s almost kind of 40 years late,” said Yu. “Prince George was supposed to reach a population of about 180,000 in

This map outlines the Prince George census metropolitan area, which registered a population of 100,127 in the 2021 census. It includes the city itself, with a population of 76,708, and most of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

the middle 1990s, if not the early 1990s, which didn’t happen.”

This led to new ideas to promote growth, he said.

“I think all our forefathers got together and said, ‘You know, we need to start planning for when the wood industry might one day taper down,’” he said.

“We need to make sure we have something else.’ So that’s where people got together and created universities.”

Yu said competition among different BC universities became so fierce that the population did not rise as much as expected.

Despite these setbacks over the previous decades, Yu said he has personally seen growth in the city and is excited to see what the future holds.

“Prince George as a hub,” said Yu. “All the new industries — mining — are looking to us as the supply centre. People started moving in, and over the years, we can feel it in the streets. Anybody driving downtown, it’s going to take a little bit longer. You’ll need at least five to 10 minutes longer now to get home from work. That is a pretty good indication that the population definitely has grown and the school

track to hit the 100,000 mark, population growth may begin to stagnate.

“We have to be prepared for that growth,” said Corstanje. “The official community plan and other service and infrastructure plans have to be there as well. We have to be thinking about that growth and accommodating it. Population growth is not linear — it never will be. We grew more in the past few years than we had in previous comparable periods. There are projections showing that we may stagnate over the next little while. I don’t know if our population will stay linear. Projections around demographic trends — births, deaths, immigration and out-migration — suggest we could be looking at a more stagnant population.”

Despite those projections, Corstanje believes that as the city grows and adapts to changes in the economy and the country’s needs, opportunities and population could increase.

population has stabilized. All these factors point to Prince George starting to go over the 100,000 mark and to be recognized now as a metropolis rather than a small city.”

He wants to see it made official through a census.

“I really hope everybody, during the next census, fills out their census form so we’re getting all the support and money from the federal and provincial governments that we should,” he said.

One of the people involved in planning how Prince George responds to population growth is the city’s manager of economic development, Deklan Corstanje.

Corstanje said one of the most basic needs for growth in the city is housing.

“With a growing population, you need certain basic amenities. Housing is definitely one of them,” said Corstanje. “We are on a target order list where we have to hit a minimum number of housing units to meet both the growing and existing demand for housing in Prince George. That’s one of the basic things.”

While the city is preparing for growth, Corstanje added that despite being on

“We’re currently updating our economic development strategy,” said Corstanje. “We had one completed in 2020, but things are different now than they were back then. We need to change and adapt. We’re in the process of that. We’ve done significant engagement to date, with a bit more to go, and then we’ll put together a roadmap to 2030. That will give us an action plan we can put into place to make lasting and meaningful change to our economy, working with local businesses, regional partners and partners from beyond to support businesses that want to grow, businesses that want to move here, and ultimately the employers in our community who need to fill positions and seize opportunities in front of them.”

Yu expects that if the population continues to grow over the next few years, a ring road will be needed to divert dangerous goods away from downtown and Queensway, and to address future housing needs by constructing more mixed-density neighbourhoods.

“We need to most likely develop more of what we call the missing middle,” said Yu.

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More people would mean more infrastructure funds: Yu

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“Mixed-density neighbourhoods. We need to plan schools in various areas better. Which school do we need to get to? Should we build out D.P. Todd right away, or are we going to build a more comprehensive school away from that area? Is it more centred around the CN Centre area? All of these questions we must get together as a community to answer. I’ve always said that with the first round of the long-term plan, whether it’s the core plan of the city, we don’t have to be exactly right, but we must be ambitious. During the planning stage this time around, we need to plan that out. We have to have the conviction that Prince George will become a major centre.”

He added that one of the major effects of a growing population is increased funding to improve infrastructure.

“One positive thing is that more taxpayers are going to be helping pay

for city infrastructure that is built for 180,000 people,” said Yu. “So finally we’ve got more development, more population and more property value is going to increase, and more property is going to get developed. With everybody paying, especially with development in the area, having more population on the existing sewer and water lines will help pay for the levies.”

Yu also said an increase in population means an increase in amenities, and he believes that as Prince George becomes a better place to live, work and play, more people will become permanent residents and the civic core will continue to grow.

“If you build it, they will come,” said Yu. “I envision that if we get a bigger convention centre, a performing arts centre, a new arena downtown and perhaps a new hotel, this will help not only stabilize the current population, but the population will also jump another 40,000 to 50,000 people because of it.

The thing is, when it comes to building these things, we need to be smart. We cannot go to existing taxpayers and ask them to pay for it and then take a risk. We need to find a way to convince the federal and provincial governments to give us the means to work together with First Nations to build out this infrastructure.”

Yu also hopes that with more growth over the next few decades, Prince George can eventually stabilize at 200,000, and he spoke about the amenities that could come with that population.

“We need a couple more manufacturing processing plants here,” said Yu. “I would love to see, eventually, an EV assembly plant done here. With the upcoming success in the sustainable aviation field, I would love to see an airport cargo logistics park developed. I would love to see the University of Northern British Columbia’s full-time population go from just over 3,000 to perhaps over 5,000. I would love

to see CNC get its share of growth as well. With the university, CNC and the airport doing well, I think the population will eventually stabilize around 200,000. With 200,000, we can have a well-supported performing arts centre. We will have two arenas that are well supported. We will have a large convention centre and perhaps another hotel, all well supported by this increased population. This is what I envisioned — that’s why I ran. I want to be part of the planning of this long-term growth of Prince George.”

Not everyone sees the latest numbers as a positive.

A vocal critic of the city’s growth plans is UNBC Prof. Annie Booth, who holds a PhD in land resources.

Booth told The Citizen she would be surprised if the CMA maintains its current high, saying current development is not conducive to sustained growth.

UNBC professor outlines issues with city’s growth plans

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“I don’t know how long we’ll hold on to 100,000,” said Booth. “The problem is that Prince George’s planning is not keeping thoughtful track of how development is happening. They don’t do infill. They figure as long as they cut down a bunch of trees and it’s within the city boundary, and they can stick up poorly built houses, then they’re fine. The problem is the number of developments going on where there are inadequate services and no thoughtful understanding of limitations. That’s causing the problem.

“For example, the stormwater drain tax that’s coming up is because the city is being asked to inherit the cost of utilities to service all this development. We’ve done a lot of work on limiting runoff, things like that. That comes out of the city base, and developers are not paying for it. We’re paying

to bring people in and put them in poorly thought-out developments that increase the cost of maintaining those developments.”

She also said the city lacks the amenities needed to support its current population and that further growth could create more problems.

“The amenities that would both attract and retain people to Prince George — the city hasn’t given much thought to that,” said Booth. “They don’t have the schools to educate children. They don’t have the roads. They don’t have the utilities and infrastructure to support the population they want to attract. It’s fine to want to grow, but you have to have a coherent vision that doesn’t rely on jumping from one developer to another.”

One example of growth leading to shortages in amenities is a proposed 60-home development on Cranbrook Hill, which Booth said illustrates how

growth may be harming the city.

“Cranbrook Hill already has a significant potable water shortage,” Booth said. There are existing houses where well water has run dry, and without paying attention to the fact that current residents can’t get water, they intend to add another 50 or 60 residential sites in an area lacking available water. That affects drinking water, bathing and laundry, but also waste disposal and sewage.”

It’s important to remember that attracting new residents goes beyond housing and utilities, she added.

“They’re not looking at thoughtful development that respects the limitations of the land base or the amenities that might bring people to Prince George,” she said. “A lot of people come here for green space and winter recreation. The city is actively destroying that because they don’t think it’s worth it — because it doesn’t pay taxes like development does.”

Booth said she is hesitant to call the 100,000 mark a success and is concerned about what further growth could mean.

“Growth for growth’s sake — the only things that really do that successfully are cancer cells,” said Booth. “On the outskirts of Toronto, there’s a city called Vaughan that’s basically wall-to-wall housing and roads. There’s nothing attractive there. It’s the worst form of urban development because people didn’t think through what it meant to be a bedroom community. It’s condo after condo after condo. If Prince George wants to be a place where people actually want to live, then what are we striving for? They haven’t assessed what the city needs in terms of housing, amenities, infrastructure, utilities or schools. All they do is have a developer say, ‘I want to put in more houses,’ and the city says, ‘Sure.’ That’s not thoughtful city planning.”

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For loved ones lost in Iran

Members of the Iranian community take part in a Candle and Roses Ceremony to honour those who have died during protests in Iran at St. Michael and All Angels Saturday, Feb 7. The current Iranian regime, in response to ongoing protests, cut off internet access to the country starting on Jan. 8, leaving loved ones in Prince George and across Canada unable to get in touch. With the recent death toll estimated at more than 30,000, many in Prince George have recently learned they have lost family members or friends.

Some students have been clear about why they don’t stay

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Booth said she also sees the impact of poor planning among her UNBC students.

“Every year I ask my students why they don’t stay here,” said Booth. “They people.”

Along with the recent Statistics Canada report, a Globe and Mail report on Canada’s most livable cities ranked Prince George as the 92nd most livable city in Canada, down 25 spots from last year.

Yu said the rankings may have dipped due to notable public safety incidents such as the CrossRoads fire, and he encouraged those who have not experienced Prince George to visit in person.

“I think last year we were very unfortunate,” said Yu. “A couple of those

public safety. I envision that number will jump back up. A lot of times, people writing these things have never been to Prince George. They just look at the news, and that doesn’t give a full picture.

“For me, I fall in love with Prince

Council prepares to host local government associaton

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council got some preparation work underway in the first week of February as it prepares to host this year’s North Central Local Government Association annual general meeting in May.

The NCLGA is comprised of representatives of local governments across north and central British Columbia, who come together to work on joint advocacy projects and find solutions to common problems.

At the 2025 AGM in Prince Rupert, it was decided that Prince George would host the 2026 edition of the event.

That’s taking place at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre from May 20 to 22.

At the Monday, Feb. 2 city council

meeting, it was decided that councillors Susan Scott and Ron Polillo would be appointed to join Mayor Simon Yu as the Prince George representatives on the planning committee.

The next day, at the Tuesday, Feb. 3 meeting of the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, members approved forwarding three resolutions from Prince George to the NCLGA AGM for consideration by delegates.

The first of the three requests additional resources for BC Crown counsel.

This comes after BC Crown Counsel Association vice-president Jennifer Johnston gave a presentation at council’s Dec. 3, 2025 meeting where she outlined the challenges faced by the province’s frontline criminal prosecutors.

A draft version of the statement discussed at the committee meeting briefly

discusses some of those challenges — like insufficient staffing levels and the delays they cause — and urges the provincial government to provide Crown counsel with more staffing, funding and operational resources.

The second resolution advocates for the creation of an Indigenous-led housing alliance.

At the committee’s Nov. 4 meeting, there was a presentation from representatives of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association and the Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George.

The representatives said that in their work providing housing, they have to deal with a lot of complex social issues that they don’t have adequate funding to deal with.

They asked for the committee to submit a resolution to the NCLGA asking for

the province to create an Indigenous-led housing alliance to help tackle those resource issues, which was accepted.

The draft of this motion notes that Indigenous people make up about 40 per cent of British Columbia’s homeless population and endorses the creation of the housing alliance with the AHMA convening and guiding it.

The final resolution calls on the federal government to create a ministry of forests to help the Canadian forestry industry navigate the difficult economic conditions created by American tariffs and to find new markets for this country’s wood products.

It was noted that the federal forestry motion has also been forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This year’s FCM annual conference and trade show is scheduled for June 4 to 7 in Edmonton.

New RDFFG accessibility commitee holds frst meetng

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George held a committee meeting about 2 1/2 years in the making at its offices at 155 George St. in Prince George on Monday, Feb. 9.

The Accessibility Advisory Committee convened for the first time. It was established and had its terms of references approved by the district’s board on Aug. 17, 2023.

However, the district only looked to fill the membership of the committee last summer.

Fraser-Fort George’s general manager of legislative and corporate services, Maureen Connelly, told the members that the board created the committee to meet provincial legislative requirements.

When it was first established, she said there was some discussion over whether the committee should focus on the regional district’s rural electoral areas or the entire district, including the municipalities of Prince George,

Valemount, McBride and Mackenzie.

A region-wide approach was ultimately decided on.

Under the Accessible British Columbia Act, the provincial government and certain types of organizations are required to have accessibility committees.

They must also have an accessibility plan, which should be updated every three years at the least. Developing this plan is one of the primary goals of the Fraser-Fort George committee.

The five members of the committee are:

• Randi Dalzell, a manager at AiMHi

• Tanis Forgues, who said she has three family members with disabilities

• Nancy Harris, a local advocate with Spinal Cord Injury BC

• A.J. Leason, a director of services with AiMHi

• Christos Vardacostas, executive director of the Carefree Society Forgues was elected unanimously as the chair of the committee. Both AiMHi representatives said they were unaware

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s Accessibility Advisory Committee meets for the first time at 155 George St. on Monday, Feb. 9.

the other had applied to join.

While the committee was getting its bearings, Vardacostas asked if the membership fulfilled the requirements set out in its terms of reference.

The terms specify that the committee should have between four and 12 members “representing the public, business and community interests within the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and participating councils.”

Further, the terms specify that at

least 50 per cent of members be people with disabilities or support people with disabilities at a personal or professional level, at least one Indigenous member, represent a geographical mix from across the district and have at least one member from a municipal council within the district.

Connelly said the district was only able to meet some of the criteria.

For example, she said the district surveyed its member municipalities, but they did not appoint a representative at this time, primarily because they have their own accessibility committees.

However, the terms of reference won’t be changed in the hopes of meeting those requirements in the future.

The committee set their next meeting for Monday, March 9, with a time yet to be determined. All meetings of the committee are open for the public to attend.

The City of Prince George has its own Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion, which meets quarterly. Its next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 in the second-floor boardroom at city hall.

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Tuesday, March 3rd

April 21st

Think about what populaton growth really means

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

The news that Prince George’s census metropolitan area has quietly crossed the 100,000 mark is, on the surface, an easy win.

For a city long described as “on the cusp” of something bigger, the milestone feels like validation, especially for one of our elected officials.

Mayor Simon Yu, whose public life has been shaped by an ambitious vision of Prince George as a major provincial hub, understandably sees this news as confirmation that the city is finally catching up to plans first sketched out decades ago.

But milestones can mislead. And in this case, celebrating 100,000 people also means creating a sense of false optimism that distracts us from the reality: the infrastructure meant to support this growth was planned more than half a century ago, built for a future that never arrived and has now aged to the point where it would require major and costly upgrades to support the kind of population boom the mayor wants.

Prince George’s story is unusual. From the 1940s through the early 1980s, the city expanded at a breathtaking pace, driven by industrial development and resource-sector jobs.

Planners assumed that trajectory would continue, projecting a population of nearly 185,000 by 2012. Roads, sewer and water systems, neighbourhood

layouts and service expectations were designed with that future in mind.

Then the boom slowed. Population growth stalled. The city never became what it was designed to be.

Now, more than 40 years later, we’re finally nudging up against the lower end of those original projections.

But the passage of time matters. Pipes corrode. Roads deteriorate. Systems built for a much larger population but

maintained by a much smaller tax base wear out faster than expected.

Simply adding more people to aging infrastructure does not magically make it viable; in many cases, it accelerates the need for expensive replacement.

That’s the big problem with embracing population targets — whether it’s 180,000, 200,000, or the next nice round number.

Targets create the illusion that growth

itself is the solution. In reality, growth is a stress test. Without careful planning, it exposes weaknesses rather than fixing them.

Like many politicians, Yu argues that more taxpayers will finally help pay for infrastructure designed for a larger city. That sounds logical, but it glosses over the scale of the upgrades required.

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OPINION

LETTERS EDITOR to the

Councillors knew what the job would be like when they ran

Recently, there has been a lot said about city council and city staff, and I am no different and have been very vocal on social media and in The Citizen Unlike many who vent or have an opinion, I have actually dabbled in both local and union politics, so I do have an understanding, to some degree, of what city council goes through.

With that being said, those who sit on city council are in public office and are always under a microscope with everything that happens while they are in office, and they seem to forget that the citizens of this city voted them in to be the voice of the citizens, which so far the vast majority of city council gets a failing mark, with the exceptions of Mayor Simon Yu and councillors Brian Skakun and Trudi Klassen, who have done their jobs.

The majority of the rest of the councillors stay within their group of people they know and rarely venture outside that group.

You want a pay raise? Then go out to all areas of the city, like the Hart, upper and lower College Heights, Cranbrook Hill, North Nechako, BCR site and Shelley, to name but a few areas, and listen to their concerns.

There is a whole city that wants to be heard. Put boots to the ground and talk to people at stores, strip malls, and residential and commercial areas.

Take two to three days of your month and visit areas and listen. It goes a long way.

Yes, you will be asked tough questions, you will get an earful, and yes, you will get angry people, but if you take the time to understand the pulse of the city, you will become a better council member and you likely will be worn out. Don’t use the excuse, “I’m too busy” or “I have meetings all week.” This is what you signed up for, and you were voted in to represent us.

It is by no means an easy job, nor is it for the faint of heart. You need a thick skin and be able to let it go, as there are a lot of passionate people out there, but you also don’t have to take verbal or physical abuse either, and all you need do is either walk away and tell them to talk when they are calmer or use bylaw or security on your walkabouts.

Dean Soiland

Prince George

Water issues are a factor in Cranbrook Hill development

Several Cranbrook Hill residents spoke about water issues on Cranbrook Hill, yet city staff and council glossed over the issue at the Feb. 2 meeting, seemingly more concerned about bikers trespassing on private property than Cranbrook Hill water problems. I am not opposed to the development on Russman Road, but I am extremely concerned that increasing the number of users on the aquifer from which Cranbrook Hill residents draw their water will result in declining water supplies in many residents’ wells.

This has already happened to my own water well. In the 1980s, there was sufficient water to build a backyard skating rink. Yet recently, I’ve been forced to collect rainwater for the vegetable garden as the well runs dry. Recently, I attempted to establish drip irrigation for a vegetable garden, but there simply was not enough water to do that.

According to L&M Engineering, an existing well on Cranbrook Hill produces 36 gallons a minute. According to Woods

and Water Co., my well was supplying six gallons per minute in 2006; today it’s less, at 0.75 gallons per minute.

Since existing water supplies in aquifers reduce as the number of wells pumping water increases, it stands to reason that adding 12 more wells on Cranbrook Hill will result in declining water for everyone.

Residents on Crest Road on Cranbrook Hill have city water. Perhaps it’s time for the city to bring water to everyone on Cranbrook Hill, which would not only solve our water problems, but be very beneficial in the case of a wildfire.

Anne Allgaier

Prince George

Surcharge for out-of-province park visitors against

‘unity’

What is Victoria thinking, imposing an out-of-province surcharge on provincial campgrounds? This has got to be one of the stupidest things I’ve seen in a while.

With all the tariff talk from down south, I thought we were becoming more unified as a country by removing barriers. When I saw this on the news this morning, I had to check my calendar. Nope, not April 1.

Let’s unite at least in BC and let our leaders know this is unacceptable. A very small amount of revenue for a whole lot of disharmony.

Mike Nash Vanderhoof

Chasing populaton targets sets us up for disappointment

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Sewer, water, stormwater, roads, schools and public amenities don’t just need maintenance; many need wholesale modernization to meet current standards, climate realities and community expectations.

Those costs don’t disappear just because the population inches upward. In fact, they can’t happen without first increasing the tax base, creating a feedback loop that will hold Prince George back.

Meanwhile, the qualities that actually attract new residents and keep the ones we have — green space, affordability, manageable traffic, access to recreation and a sense of community — are already under pressure, as noted by UNBC students in our coverage of this story. These are not luxuries. They are Prince George’s competitive advantage. People come here, and stay here, because life is supposed to be easier, healthier and more grounded than in larger urban centres. Growth that undermines that lifestyle is

self-defeating.

This is where smart, sensible growth must replace grand visions. That means prioritizing infill over sprawl, ensuring developers pay the true cost of the infrastructure they want and protecting the natural spaces that define the city’s character.

It means asking hard questions about schools, health care, utilities and safety before chasing the next headline-making project.

And it means recognizing that “bigger” is not the same thing as “better.”

Passing 100,000 is worth noting. It is not, however, a mandate to resurrect population dreams from the 1960s. Prince George doesn’t need to race toward an arbitrary number and hope everything else catches up.

It needs a coherent, realistic plan that matches growth to capacity — and protects the quality of life that made people want to be here in the first place. If we set ourselves up to keep chasing bigger population targets, we risk setting ourselves up for disappointment. Again.

OPINION

James Steidle: If we tear down the Kopar arena, we lose a piece of our history

I am sure the various committees will have a beautiful plaque put up to honour the old coliseum. My paranoid opinion is that the rebuild will fit in nicely with the planned, not planned, entertainment mecca to be placed in the vicinity.

It sounds like several million dollars could improve the building and give it another few decades of use. I hope the author’s information is accurate and that a second or third look would make it feasible.

Between this plan and the pool plan, what are the kids supposed to do? I think shutting venues down will cause our young athletes to fall behind in skill and competition that they will never make up.

I hope the next council will include a few forward thinkers instead of reactive nonthinkers. We need to remember that the latest and greatest doesn’t always serve the needs of our community.

Skeeto

Six

Prince George-area

athletes in Italy for 2026 Olympics

Wow! This has to be a very exciting time for you. Good luck to all of you, and enjoy the experience. We will be cheering for you!

Northern logger Share your

James Steidle: If we tear down the Kopar arena, we lose a piece of our history

I actually agree this time, but more so on the spending front rather than the historic preservation.

When will this city realize that we don’t have the money? Every time there is a partial grant available, council seems to think it would be wasting money not to spend it. It’s no different than someone coming back from a Black Friday sale with a truckload of unnecessary TVs and laptops and talking about how much money they saved — or blowing money on soccer watch parties.

Have a look at Calgary and tell me that major infrastructure failures can’t happen here, and they have far more money than we do. Do we have enough funds to cover a major watermain failure? The tax base here is stagnant at best, but declining is most likely. If your spouse loses his or her job, that’s not the time to go buy a new truck. But then again, it’s not like it’s your money, right?

J. Johnson

City staff suggest Prince George council apply for FIFA watch party grants

Expo 86, 2010 Olympics, and now the 2026 World Cup. I seriously question the creative accounting that surrounds all three. Even though I attended and enjoyed Expo and the Olympics, I question the chamber of commerce spin about the positive impacts. Same with the upcoming World Cup. Some feel-good flag-waving hardly justifies the cost. Just the cost of security is a joke. Not sure how those in Dawson Creek, Revelstoke and Spuzzum see any benefit. The majority in Greater Vancouver, too. Smaller events like the Grey Cup, the Brier and the World Crokinole Championships I can be on board with, as they are easier to track for costs. The messaging often says there will be a trickle-down effect for decades to come because of tourism. Really? I would rather see tourism commercials for BC and Canada during the Super Bowl, the Milano Olympics, etc. I suspect that would have more net benefit than the World Cup circus.

Science

PG’s newest supportive housing spaces set to open on Queensway in March

Terrific news! I remember viewing a news report about this need several years ago. Having support staff in place on site will be very helpful for these young people trying to make their way through life.

PG Archer

Good Caws Crow Rescue Society wins Canadian Choice Award for excellence

I found a crow last spring in one of my flower beds and was given the number to contact Good Caws Rescue. Someone was able to come the same day to make sure the crow was not injured and that it probably was just learning to fly. I was advised to stay away and let the crow recover, and by the next day it was gone. Very thankful for the advice Djajo

City staff suggest Prince George council apply for FIFA watch party grants

This is unbelievable! You’ve raised our taxes, added a ridiculous stormwater tax, closed a pool for a $43,000,000 renovation, refused to help out seniors, but you have money for a FIFA watch party? At a time when mills have closed, people are out of work and many cannot even afford groceries on their table, you decide to revisit this again? Does anyone on city council or in city hall have a conscience? Who’s really behind this? Every pub in Prince George will be having watch parties. How about going to one and supporting local businesses? You have lost your way, and this is simply another slap in the face to the taxpayers of Prince George.

R. Nich

Developer taking city hall to court over project deal

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A developer based in Langley wants a judge to declare that the City of Prince George consented to the transfer of an agreement for a development and that the developer is entitled to interests and rights under that agreement.

Otherwise, according to a Jan. 23-filed BC Supreme Court civil claim, PRP Holdings Ltd. and 1415510 BC Ltd. want a judge to order the city to pay general, special, aggravated and punitive damages for breach of an agreement, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.

None of the allegations has been tested in court.

The city has 21 days from service to file a response.

The legal dispute stems from 1090 and 1070 Patricia Blvd. PRP court filings in the New Westminster registry said the city and Kamloops-based A&T Project Developments Inc. agreed on a four-phase residential development. Among other things, A&T would build a single-storey parking lot at cost, containing 288 spots, to be owned by the city. The city agreed to rent stalls to A&T, building owners or strata corporations. In March 2023, PRP agreed to buy

lots 2 and 3 from Park House 2 Developments, a company acting on A&T’s behalf, for $1.4 million.

But the city sought more time to review and respond.

In the meantime, PRP removed subjects from the contract because it

did not expect the city would have any issue.

PRP transferred the contract to a wholly owned subsidiary, 1415510 BC Ltd., and completed the purchase in May 2023.

It asked the city to consent to the

assignment in July and August 2023.

A&T assigned its interests to PRP, subject to city consent, in August 2023, and PRP delivered the agreement to city hall for consent the next month.

“Had the plaintiffs known that the benefits under the project agreements would not be assigned to them, they would not have entered into the contract of purchase and sale or removed the subjects to that agreement and completed the purchase, as the expected costs to purchase and build out lots 2 and 3 would not result in a meaningful return without the city incentives,” said the claim, via PRP’s law firm, CBM Lawyers LLP.

In February 2024, the city advised PRP that it would consent if A&T’s benefits were reduced or eliminated.

It cited the passage of time and a need to renegotiate terms of the parking stall rentals.

PRP said that, as of June 2025, “it was of the view” that the city assigned the agreements to PRP because it did not respond to the request in a reasonable time and made an “impermissible attempt to renegotiate” terms.

“Other than for privileged communications that are not admissible in these proceedings, the city has not responded further,” said the lawsuit.

Crown wants correcton to court order against hunter

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Crown lawyer says the record should be corrected for a hunter who was acquitted in Prince George of violating a court order.

In a Jan. 27 submission to B.C. Supreme Court in Fort St. John, Lara Vizsolyi said Provincial Court Judge Oliver Fleck erred in failing to adhere to the joint Crown and defence sentencing proposal, which he had clearly accepted.

Richard Dawson Smith pleaded guilty under the Wildlife Act on Dec. 13, 2022,

to hunting on cultivated land without the owner’s permission and avoided trial.

Under a plea bargain, Smith was ordered to retake the Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) safety and ethics course by March 31, 2023, before hunting or accompanying another hunter again after that date.

Smith relied on the signed order and continued to hunt. He retook CORE in April of that year due to course availability.

When Fleck pronounced the sentence, he inadvertently altered the wording of the joint submission.

A conservation officer, who believed Smith violated the order as pronounced by Fleck, contacted Crown counsel, who sought to have the order corrected.

Fleck signed the corrected or amended order, but nobody advised Smith, and he was not provided a copy.

In May 2024, Smith was charged with violating the court order by hunting and shooting a lynx on Dec. 28, 2022.

On Jan. 10, 2025, however, Provincial Court Judge Cassandra Malfair acquitted Smith because Fleck had misspoken during sentencing and did not intend to change the negotiated sentence.

Both parties had failed to notice the

change in wording, and Smith correctly understood he was able to continue hunting until March 31, 2023, Vizsolyi wrote.

“While technically, the appeal is moot, the appellant will continue to have to deal with conservation officers as hunting forms an important part of his life and the record should reflect that he abided by the terms of the order intended to form part of his sentence,” the submission said.

Last December, Smith sued the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the BC Conservation Officer Service, and four officers for defamation.

Baptiste Nickel

FPX Nickel Corp. proposes to develop an open-pit nickel mine located 80 km northwest of Fort St. James that is anticipated to produce 120 megatonnes of ore per year for 28 years.

Share your thoughts

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and B.C.’s Environmental Assessment O ce (EAO) are holding a public comment period on FPX Nickel Corp.’s initial project description from February 5 to March 9, 2026

In-Person Open House

February 18 | 2:30-6:00 pm PST

Fort St. James Community Hall

190 Stuart Dr E, Fort St. James, B.C.

Online Information Session

February 24 | 11:30 am-1:30 pm PST

To register, visit: engage.eao.gov.bc.ca/BaptisteNickel-EE French virtual information session available upon request.

Learn more about the project and tell us what is

Visit the federal assessment page at iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/90051 or visit the provincial engagement page at engage.eao.gov.bc.ca/BaptisteNickel-EE

You may also submit comments by mail: Baptiste Nickel Project, PO box 9426, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1

Man who molested stepdaughter has appeal rejected

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Court of Appeal tribunal rejected a man’s bid to overturn his April 2024 conviction for the sexual interference of his stepdaughter before she was 10 years old.

The case is under a publication ban to protect the girl’s identity.

The guilty man, who worked in the construction industry, had no prior criminal history. He preyed on the girl beginning in Calgary and later in Prince George.

BC Supreme Court Justice Wendy Baker found the stepfather touched the girl for a sexual purpose 12 to 20 times between May 2016 and February 2018 and sentenced him to five years in jail in October 2024.

Baker also found him guilty of sexual assault and invitation to touch, but proceeded on the most serious charge due to a court rule against more than

The BC Court of Appeal has rejected a man’s bid to have his conviction for sexual interference overturned.

one conviction for the same crime. Baker said the sentence for abusing a child must reflect denunciation and deterrence because the man was “highly morally blameworthy in his deliberate, sustained sexual exploitation of K.P., his stepdaughter, for his own gratification.”

But, in his appeal, heard on Dec. 10, the man claimed Baker misapprehended evidence, erred by concluding

Curfew and house arrest as drug dealer sentenced in Quesnel court

hotel in Quesnel.

A 30-year-old drug dealer caught with as much as $40,000 worth of drugs, including fentanyl, was sentenced to 18 months time served and put on an 18-month conditional sentence order in Quesnel Provincial Court on Feb. 5.

Judge Judith Doulis ordered Jarrett John Jimmie to spend the first six months under house arrest and the six months after that under an 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily curfew.

Jimmie, who had spent 782 days in custody, pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs in 2021 and 2024.

Federal crown prosecutor Amritpal Gill told the court that Jimmie was busted by undercover RCMP officers after they learned that he was selling drugs from a room at the Grace Inn

Jimmie was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance from June and July 2021.

In March 2024, police found him in possession of more drugs that they believed were for the purpose of trafficking.

Gill said the street value for the fentanyl was, depending on how it was sold, $6,000 to $13,500, methamphetamine $2,400 to $22,400 and cocaine $2,057 to $4,800.

Court heard that Jimmie is a streetlevel trafficker who was committing the crimes to support his own addiction, rather than for profit. He had no prior drug convictions. His last violent crime was 2015.

“He has spent much of his adult life cycling in and out of custody,” his defence lawyer, Sizhe Chen, said during the proceedings.

redness and soreness around the victim’s vagina was evidence of abuse and improperly assessed the credibility of witnesses.

Justice Peter Edelmann wrote the Jan. 29 ruling, with agreement from Justices Janet Winteringham and Margot Fleming.

“First, even if the alleged misapprehensions of the evidence could be properly characterized as misapprehensions

rather than differing interpretations, they were not material to the trial judge’s reasoning,” said Edelmann’s summary. “Second, it was open to the trial judge to find that the complainant’s symptoms were consistent with the alleged abuse. Finally, when reading the reasons as a whole, it is clear that the trial judge was not engaged in a credibility contest and assessed the appellant’s testimony in the context of the rest of the evidence.”

Baker’s sentencing decision said the girl suffered serious psychological harm.

“This harm has manifested itself in her cutting herself, locking herself in her room, being too fearful to tell her mother at the time the abuse was happening because of the impact her disclosure would have on her family, panic attacks, flashbacks, struggles in school, lack of trust, and disruptions of normal relationships with her peers,” Baker wrote.

Judge tells shoplifer to buy from thrif stores instead

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George Provincial Court judge reluctantly agreed Feb. 4 with a Crown prosecutor and the lawyer for a woman who pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Real Canadian Superstore.

Judge Michael Brecknell sentenced Chantelle Christy Bird, 32, to a conditional discharge and one-year probation.

Prince George RCMP and the 2155 Ferry Avenue store’s asset protection staff were in the middle of a boost-andbust anti-shoplifting project when Bird stole $500 worth of goods, including children’s clothing, boots, body wash, an electric toothbrush and groceries on June 13, 2025.

Crown prosecutor Astitwa Thapa told the court that Bird was motivated by “poverty-related issues.”

Said Brecknell: “The Crown is telling the court that this is like a case of Les

Misérables (character) Jean Valjean, stealing a loaf of bread to feed himself?

Stealing clothes, that’s what you’re trying to get at, it’s not as bad a crime as stealing something else?”

“An Indigenous woman with no record, she is 32 at this stage,” Thapa replied. “If we can avoid giving her a criminal record, it would definitely go in conjunction with the Crown’s Indigenous justice framework, which

aims to reduce the over-incarceration of Indigenous people in Canadian prisons, criminal records too.”

Brecknell said he was not considering a jail sentence, but challenged Thapa to justify Bird’s fourth career conditional discharge.

“How many conditional discharges does one qualify for in the scope of their life? Is it like you punch your ticket one year, and if you get three or four years

down the road, you get to punch your ticket again?” Brecknell said.

Thapa said it was not unreasonable under the circumstances for Bird, who told the court she had a hard time in life and regretted the incident.

Before Brecknell pronounced the sentence — which includes 10 hours of community work service and a ban on visiting any Real Canadian Superstore in BC — he said it is in the public interest to deter shoplifting in order to stop price hikes.

“Everybody’s suffering because things are getting tougher,” Brecknell said.

“Every time somebody steals from a grocery store, Mr. Weston and Mr. Pattison, the owners of the two biggest grocery store chains in the province, they cover their losses by simply increasing the price to the rest of the people who come into the store.”

He told Bird that if she needs more clothes for her children, she should consider shopping at thrift stores.

Jail for man who sent explicit photos to 13-year-old babysiter NOTICE

2026 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel

The 2026 Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel meets February 24, 2026 at 11 am at 155 George Street, Prince George to consider complaints on including or excluding properties in these parcel tax rolls:

• Adams Rd Community Sewer

• Azu Water System

• Bear Lake Water System

• Bendixon Rd Community Sewer

• Buckhorn Community Sewer

• Dore River Armouring Service

• Shell-Glen Fire Protection

• Shelley Riverbank Erosion Protection

• Syms Road Street Lighting

• Tabor Lake Community Sewer

• Tallus Road Community Sewer

• West Lake Community Sewer

Written complaints must be emailed to communityservices@rdfg.bc.ca or mailed to the Regional District ofce at 155 George Street, Prince George BC V2L 1P8 by February 20 at 11 am.

Parcel tax rolls can be viewed by appointment only at the Regional District ofce from February 12 to 20, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excluding statutory holidays.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact communityservices@rdfg.bc.ca or 250-960-4400.

BOB

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 37-year-old man was sentenced to six months in jail and two years probation for sending explicit images of himself to a 13-year-old babysitter.

The name of the man is covered by a publication ban that protects the identity of the victim.

Provincial Court Judge Tamera Golinsky’s Jan. 12 decision, published this week, came after last year’s conviction of the man who had been charged with making sexually explicit material available to a child.

In August 2023, he used Snapchat on his mobile phone to send sexually explicit texts and video of him touching himself to the girl. He claimed he was drunk and on cocaine when he sent the messages. Golinsky found that he knew he was messaging the babysitter.

The Crown wanted one-year in jail plus probation, while the defence proposed a 90-day mandatory minimum to be served one week per month at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.

Neither the babysitter nor her mother gave victim impact statements, but her mother told a Community Corrections officer that her daughter was unable to provide a statement because she continues to struggle psychologically. They live in the same neighbourhood as the guilty man in the same undisclosed small town.

The man unsuccessfully asked for an intermittent sentence so that he could work and pay for his mortgage and car.

“A sentence of that length would not recognize the gravity of the offence and the level of moral blameworthiness that [he] bears and an intermittent sentence is not available for a longer sentence,” Golinsky said.

Two shot on Redwood Street

Evidence markers are placed near shell casings outside a Redwood Street home where two people were injured in what police called a targeted shooting on Tuesday, Feb. 3. After receiving reports of gunfire in the area, RCMP arrived at the house, located on the street’s 2100 block, at approximately 3 a.m. Investigators are asking anyone who saw suspicious people or vehicles on the street around the time of the shooting to contact police.

Homeowner catches man with knife trying to

break into house

He pleaded guilty and will be on probation for 18 months

BOB

MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man who pleaded guilty in Prince George Provincial Court to break and enter was sentenced Feb. 3 to time served and ordered to be on probation for 18 months.

Gary David John, 23, had been in custody for 323 days and was given time-and-a-half credit for 485 days served.

At 4:40 a.m. on March 27, 2025 a homeowner observed John with a large knife, trying to break into a townhouse.

Court heard in a presentence report that the Indigenous man from near Fort

Accused ‘ashamed’ of behaviour, court hears

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 31-year-old man will spend the next two years on probation after a Provincial Court judge suspended his sentence on Feb. 9.

Kinte Herbert Deejay Jackson had been charged with assault, assault by choking and uttering threats after a June 12, 2022 offence in Prince George. Jackson avoided a trial when he pleaded guilty to the charge of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm before Judge Michael Brecknell. The other two charges were stayed.

Jackson made five profanity-riddled threats against a woman, to knock her unconscious, knock out her teeth and smash her face.

Court heard Jackson was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress

disorder and was homeless throughout his teens. He has been sober since 2019.

Jackson’s defence lawyer, Airi Cipelletti, said he was ashamed of his behaviour.

“He knows that his behaviour is unacceptable,” Cipelletti said.

Brecknell acknowledged Jackson’s lack of criminal record prior to this charge and that there were mitigating factors, such as his remorse and the guilty plea to avoid trial.

“Not much was said about the aggravating factors,” Brecknell said.

“In my view, it’s bad enough to treat someone you meet on the street with disrespect. It is far worse than that when a person treats a partner or family member with disrespect.”

Brecknell warned Jackson to keep the peace, be of good behaviour and avoid communicating with the victim.

St. James had been raised in Prince George.

Throughout his childhood, his parents struggled with substance abuse which resulted in John going in and out of ministry care.

He was assessed at age seven with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, a subtype of fetal alcohol syndrome, and suffered developmental disabilities to the extent that he became eligible for Community Living B.C. programs.

Associate Chief Judge Paul Dohm told John to do himself “a favour” while on probation and to complete treatment.

“That’s what you need,” Dohm said during the sentencing. “It’ll help you best adjust to life out of custody, since you’ve been in there for a long time now. And it’ll help you stay on the right track.”

Northern Lights Winery celebrates one millionth botle

The company makes fruit wines at its riverside facility

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Northern Lights Estate Winery is celebrating its millionth bottle of wine, with the company’s owners calling it a major achievement for both local businesses in Prince George and a significant moment for Canada’s fruit wine industry.

Local provincial, municipal and industry leaders attended the bottling celebration at Northern Lights on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

The winery, which opened its doors in 2015 along the banks of the Nechako River, has since grown to become BC’s largest fruit winery and currently distributes its wines across BC, Alberta and the Yukon.

Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird spoke at the celebration about what the winery can bring to the tourism scene in Prince George.

“When I first moved up to Prince George, somebody said, ‘We have a winery!’ I was like, ‘What, a winery here?’ I thought they were kidding,” said Bird. “Then I had been here a number of times and I was extremely surprised and very pleasantly so. For me, this is just a story about success and about entrepreneurship. It’s about resilience, it’s about persistence, and it’s about trying everything you can to get it right — in a place where it’s unexpected and often unappreciated.

“I find it incredible that we have such a beautiful little gemstone up here in the North, and when people come to our city and they think about pulp mills or the odd smell, that they come to a winery and they go away with a beautiful — not only bouquet — but flavour.”

Doug Bell, operating partner at Northern Lights, told The Citizen the day marked an accomplishment for both the winery and the wider Prince George community.

“This is an exceptional day,” said Bell.

“I think it’s a landmark for Prince George. I think it’s a landmark for fruit wines in Canada. It’s really nice to see all the support that we’ve received over the years and really being not the first fruit winery, but the first fruit winery to expand to a larger base than just the local region.

That wasn’t something we expected when we opened in 2015. We thought we would be very regionally based. But the fact is that people have been enjoying our wines all across Canada. I think that’s just going to continue to grow.”

Bell credited the winery’s success not only to staff and their hard work, but also to a willingness to take risks and open in an area many would not consider wine country.

He said he has seen more risk-takers emerge in the Prince George business scene since opening the winery and hopes its success will continue to

inspire others.

“We like being pioneers,” said Bell. “We have heard from many businesses that they didn’t necessarily have the confidence to start, but when they saw us come in and a winery be successful in Prince George, we started to see more breweries opening and cideries opening, and of course more agricultural businesses. I think people are more interested in agriculture — understanding how food gets to their table is really critical. We hope to continue to inspire and help people, and we will continue to support them along their journeys.”

One of the industry leaders who attended the bottling was Jeff Guignard, president and CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia.

He said he was impressed not only with Northern Lights’ growth, but also

with the quality of the wine itself.

“Today’s a huge day,” said Guignard. “I mean, one million bottles doesn’t come easily. That takes years of work and passion and drive and commitment. Also, nobody thought you could build a thriving winery up here in Prince George. This is Canada’s most northern winery, one of the most northern wineries on the planet, honestly. I think this has put fruit wineries on the map, and it’s given Prince George a business and tourism opportunity they can really be proud of as well. Plus, the wine’s pretty goddamn good.”

Guignard said he is looking forward to exploring what fruit wineries like Northern Lights can do for local communities and hopes to work closely with the winery in the future.

Community foundaton, credit union announce grants

Seven organizations receive funding

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The Prince George Community Foundation (PGCF) and Beem Credit Union have announced the recipients of the 2025 Spruce Credit Union Legacy Grants.

Established by Spruce Credit Union (now Beem Credit Union), this grant has distributed $46,000 to seven local organizations that address community needs and create a lasting impact on those they serve and the wider Prince George community.

This year’s grants were given to organizations supporting food security, support for children and seniors, neighbourhood revitalization, skills development, and accessibility improvements.

The seven organizations that the Spruce Credit Union Legacy Grants have funded and the improvements that will be made with the funds are listed below:

• Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre: $2,000 was sent to the Hadih Kitchen Program to support culturally responsive meals and a welcoming space for community connection.

• Child Development Centre: $10,000 was given to help fund exterior improvements and equipment purchases to enhance safety, functionality, and visibility of the centre

• Junior Achievement British Columbia: $5,000 has been given to the Start Up to Success 2026 Program, which will advance youth entrepreneurship programming that builds financial literacy, career skills, and confidence through hands-on learning

Company an example of business done right: Wine growers CEO

“From my perspective, if you’re making wine in the province of British Columbia, you’re part of the wine community,” said Guignard. “There’s a whole bunch of things we do to market British Columbia’s grape wine industry, and I really want to explore how we can also partner with our fruit wineries to help them grow and expand and add to our community and our culture. At the end of the day, I know that every bottle of British Columbia Vintners Quality Alliance grape wine we sell returns about three to four dollars to the British Columbia economy. I imagine fruit wines are similar, so I want to see that economic impact kept here in these communities. We’ll figure out ways to make that work.”

With the Prince George community playing a significant role in the

Northern Friends of Children receives $9,000 from the Spruce Credit Union Legacy Grant for nourishment and wellness support.

• Northern Friends of Children: $9,000 has been given to Nourishment & Wellness Support, which will deliver food, wellness, and essential supports for children and families facing complex

challenges.

• Prince George Council of Seniors: $5,000 will be put towards the Seniors Christmas Hampers Project, which will enable the purchase of groceries and essential items for holiday hampers, providing connection and assistance to seniors experiencing isolation or financial hardship

• School District No. 57: $5,000 has been given to the 100 Hampers for 100 Families Project, which supports the delivery of food hampers to families within School District 57, helping ensure students and their families have access to nutritious food during Times of increased financial strain.

• Theatre Northwest Society: $10,000 was granted to the fund for accessible entrances & washrooms that improve physical access and expand participation in the performing arts.

development of Northern Lights Estate Winery over the past decade, Guignard added its success can inspire others looking to invest in or open a new business in the city.

“There are lots of opportunities out there for the right business owner, but you have to do it right the way they have here at Northern Lights,” said Guignard. “They found their customers, they connected with the community, they still market deeply into their community. The success of Northern Lights Estate Winery is Prince George’s success as well. They built this with support from community residents here, so this is something everybody should be proud of.”

The millionth bottle came from the Golden Hour batch, which contains apple, rhubarb, strawberry and a hint of peach. It will be available to the public in May and will be priced at $15.

Consultation

Temporary Use Permit No. 294 Subject property: 48160 Hart Hwy

Purpose: To permit Employee Accommodation use on the subject property for a three-year period.

Next Steps: There is a public consultation meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6:30 pm at the Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie, BC

For more details visit rdffg.ca/landuseapps

Energy regulator recommends approval of pipeline

Enbridge is also holding a hearing in Mackenzie over part of the project

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

As Enbridge prepares for a public hearing as part of its application to place a modular home at a compressor station near McLeod Lake, the Canada Energy Regulator has issued a recommendation that the federal government sign off on the project that would expand that same pipeline’s capacity.

In 2025, The Citizen reported that Enbridge is looking to expand the capacity of its 2,900-kilometre natural gas pipeline running from Fort Nelson to the Sumas border crossing with the United States.

During a presentation to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board that June, Enbridge representatives said five sections of pipeline looping would be built in the region if the project goes forward.

To accommodate workers in the northern part of Fraser-Fort George, the company is proposing to build two accommodation sites: one near Mackenzie with capacity for up to 700 workers and a second near Powder King with room for up to 150 workers.

Workers assigned to other parts of the project in Fraser-Fort George like Hixon will utilize pre-existing accommodations, like those in Prince George.

On Friday, Jan. 30, the Canada Energy Regulator issued a news release stating it had found it “in the public interest and recommends that a certificate be issued to authorize the project,” with the final decision up to the federal government.

A statement sent to The Citizen by Enbridge on Monday, Feb. 4 said that if the $4 billion project receives final approval, it expects construction to begin in the second quarter of this year.

Once complete, the Sunrise Expansion Project would add 300 million cubic feet per second of capacity to the pipeline and contribute more than $3 billion to the Canadian economy.

Across the entire regional district, Enbridge said it expects to create 1,300 construction-related jobs for the pipeline and another 100 jobs relating to work at compressor stations.

Ali Hendi, the company’s director of projects and project lead for Sunrise said in the release that Enbridge welcomes the regulator’s decision.

“By moving forward now, this project will help to strengthen the Canadian economy. This is a shovel-ready, critical energy infrastructure project that’s essential to advancing Canada’s energy superpower ambitions,” Hendi said. “It will play a role in increasing economic prosperity and will increase energy security.”

NOTICE OF

Public Consultation

Temporary Use Permit No. 295

Subject property: Finlay Forest Service Road and Windy Point Lake

Purpose: To permit pipeline storage, log handling, scale and ofce on a portion of the Licence of Occupation No. 707304 for a three-year period.

Next Steps: There is a public consultation meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 7:30 pm at Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie, BC

For more details visit rdffg.ca/landuseapps

However, before the matter is discussed, members of the public will be given a chance to speak their minds and ask questions at a public consultation meeting.

That meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Mackenzie Recreation Centre in the District of Mackenzie at 400 Skeena Dr. on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Those interested in providing written submissions for the hearing have until noon on Friday, Feb. 13 to email them to developmentservices@ rdffg.bc.ca, mail them to development services at 155 George St. in Prince George, V2L 1P8 or fax them to 250-562-8676.

Written submissions must include the legal name of the writer written legibly. Documents relating to the application can be found online at rdffg.ca/landuseapps or at the regional district’s Prince George offices.

At multiple sites along the length of the pipeline, there are compressor stations that repressurize the gas to keep them travelling to their destination.

One such compressor station is located at 48160 Hart Highway, just north of reserve land belonging to McLeod Lake Indian Band in Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip) of Fraser-Fort George.

Enbridge has applied for a temporary use permit so that it can place a four-bedroom modular home at the site to house workers assigned to the compressor station. Under the property’s Industrial 3 zoning, employee accommodation is not allowed.

If the permit is granted by Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors at its March 19, 2026 meeting, it will last for three years, at which point it must reapply for another temporary use permit for the rezoning of the property.

A report from district staff notes that Enbridge is looking to eventually permanently rezone the property.

One hour after the Enbridge public hearing, another will be held at the same location regarding A.M. Anderson Ventures Ltd.’s application for a temporary use permit for a property on Finley Forest Service Road, located a short distance southwest of the intersection between Highway 97 and Highway 39.

If approved, that permit would allow the company to use the property as a laydown yard for a period of three years.

In its consultations with other entities, the regional district noted an objection from Tsay Keh Dene Nation, which said it should be issued a license of occupation rather than the company.

“The land is in Tsay Keh Dene territory and therefore it is of interest for our economic development for the future of the nation,” forestry co-ordinator Duane Norman said. “We do not support the discission to continue with this application.”

The deadlines and information for attending or submitting written comments is the same for this hearing as the Enbridge one.

It will also be considered by the regional district’s board at its March 19 meeting.

New proposals could see limited return of caribou hunt

ED HITCHINS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

FORT NELSON, BC — New provincial government proposals could see the caribou hunt return to the Peace region on a limited basis.

It is currently one of 60 hunting proposals tabled by the provincial government, with the public having until February 13th to submit their opinions.

Caribou hunting was suspended in the region back in 2022. The proposal will see a limited hunting season between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30 for fivepoint — or animals with five points on its antler — caribou.

It would be only limited to measuring units surrounding the Fort Nelson area.

Local MLAs have weighed in on the engagement. Peace River South MLA

Larry Neufeld took to X to say public engagement such as this means “consultation needs to be real,” while pointing to other concerns such as motorized

access, snowmobiling near Tumbler Ridge, online-only regulation books and proposed lead shot restrictions.

Meanwhile, Peace River North MLA

Jordan Kealy wrote on X: “These regulations don’t just deal with seasons and harvest limits — they also include how motorized access on Crown land is managed under the Wildlife Act, which can affect ATVs, ORVs, snowmobiles and access to areas many people rely on.

“If you hunt, trap or spend time in the back country, I encourage you to review

the proposals and share your feedback before decisions are finalized,” wrote Kealy.

The proposal reads the government said the closures four years ago “included a commitment to review these regulation changes while wildlife managers and First Nations gained a better understanding of caribou populations and demographics.”

It further states “recent efforts by the Caribou Recovery Program have pro vided clarity on the status of northern

mountain caribou populations in the Peace region,” and “northern mountain caribou in the Peace region is “[greater than] 4,000 individuals spread among six herds with bull ratios above the provincial objective of 35 bulls per 100 cows.”

Based on “recently surveyed herds,” there seems to be a stabilizing and growing population, according to the proposal, which added the current population estimates in the measuring units proposed for opening exceed 500 animals and are restricted to northern mountain caribou populations only, with no chance of harvest on boreal caribou or southern mountain caribou populations.”

Southern mountain caribou are currently endangered, according to the province’s Species at Risk Act. Area First Nations were not available for comment.

Terrace mayor says resource revenue sharing crucial

The community has already been dealt a major forestry blow

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Terrace is a city that grew up on decades of dependency on sawmills and logging to build its tax base and make the local economy tick, and the downfall of forestry in recent years has forced the Skeena region’s supply and service centre to shift its focus to mining and the oil and gas sectors.

The lack of secure economic fibre supply and weak lumber markets was a job-killing gut punch for Terrace, which in February 2023 led to the shutdown of Skeena Sawmills and the adjacent Skeena Bioenergy pellet plant, the city’s only major industries.

But there is hope on the horizon.

Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Terrace Nov. 13 to announce the second round of major projects identified by the Major Projects Office, part of a nation-building $1 trillion investment in resource development over the next five years. Four of those big projects are in the Terrace region, but none are within the city limits and that presents a problem for Mayor Sean Bujtas.

“On the outside we’re excited to see all this economic activity in northwest BC,” said Bujtas, who attended the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George Jan. 21-23.

“It will create jobs and be great for businesses in our community and we look forward to that because it will help the community thrive a bit. But there’s one small problem with having the resources outside of your municipality. You don’t receive any taxation from it, but you’re going to receive all of the negative impacts of it.”

The sawmill closures in 2023 left the city of 13,000 with no large-scale industries left to pay for roads, sewers, public buildings, policing and other infrastructure needed for city operations, and the burden shifted to residential and commercial taxpayers.

“Terrace is positioned to support a big part of supporting the federal and provincial economy when you look at the federal government fast-tracking 12 megaprojects and four of them are in Terrace’s backyard,” said Bujtas.

“We’re really the epicentre of the growth that’s going to carry this province and we’re bracing for impacts that come along with those things. It’s concerning when we’re not going to see the revenue from those things because they’re not within our municipality.”

Bujtas said he only has to look at what’s happening in Kitimat, a 40-minute drive south of Terrace, to see the discrepancy. Kitimat has the Rio Tinto aluminum smelter and the new LNG Canada terminal within its boundaries and combined they provide $35 million in tax revenue annually to the District of Kitimat.

Bujtas said since 2018, when the final investment decision led to construction of the LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat, Canada’s first major liquefied natural gas export facility, Terrace taxpayers have seen their taxes jump 60 per cent.

“The reason we’ve had to increase taxes 60 per cent is because we’ve had

to add more staffing for issues that are more provincially related,” said Bujtas. “We added three more police officers, we added three more community safety bylaw officers, we’ve added a social services co-ordinator.

“We haven’t given the residents a new pool or built a new arena with this massive tax increase and because there’s so much economic activity in the area, a road project that was in 2017 that was $1 million is now $2.2 million. It’s driven the cost to do business up and the problem is, unlike a town like Kitimat, which has heavy taxation on industry, collecting $35 million a year between Rio Tinto and LNG Canada, the only industrial taxation Terrace has is for a closed sawmill, for about $450,000 annually.

“It is shouldered on the residents and the commercial taxpayer, and that is not fair.”

Bujtas is one of three chairs of the committee that oversees the Northwest Resource Benefit Alliance, a provincial fund to pay for infrastructure projects to provide 21 communities from Vanderhoof to Masset with $50 million

annually for five years starting in 2024. Terrace gets $7 million per year from that fund and Bujtas said it’s not nearly enough to pay for new roads or water lines his city will need. He said it’s up to the province to give municipalities a bigger slice of the pie.

“There are already revenue-sharing deals out there, there’s one in the Peace, and a community like Dawson Creek, which is similar in size to Terrace, is getting $16 million in perpetuity, and I’ve got a five-year deal for $7 million,” Bujtas said.

“We’ve got to make sure that communities like Terrace are made whole as these projects push forward.”

According to Bujtas, Terrace operates on an annual budget of $34 million, while Kitimat, with a population twothirds smaller than Terrace, operates on a $50 million budget.

Terrace is a hub community that serves mining operations in the Golden Triangle, an area of northwestern BC known for its gold, silver and copper deposits.

New industry must also beneft community: Bultas

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

The Red Chris copper mine, located within the same region and operated by Newmont Mining and Imperial Metals, was referred to by Carney last September when the Major Projects Office revealed its first round of major project announcements.

The federal government has promised a $140 million loan guarantee to BC Hydro to fund its North Coast Transmission Line project to double the electrical capacity from Prince George to Terrace.

That transmission line, when complete in 2030, will power the Ksi Lisims LNG project proposed for Pearse Island northwest of Terrace and will increase capacity for other critical minerals developments in BC’s Golden Triangle area. Ksi Lisims will include an 800-kilometre gas transmission line to Prince Rupert and a 95-kilometre electrical transmission line.

The North Coast Transmission Line project alone is expected to generate close to $30 billion in investments. LNG Canada is projected to create $23 billion over the 40-year lifespan of that project.

“We know as northerners the money that’s made in our communities is going to carry the province,” said Bujtas. “It’s going to build hospitals in the Lower Mainland, it’s going to build SkyTrain

lines, tunnels and bridges, we understand that. But you need to leave a bit of the money behind for the people that are carrying the load.

“As much as I’m fighting for Terrace for more, it’s not just us. It’s a lot of communities along the line that need to make sure they’re supported. Look at Houston — they’re trying to come up with $1.2 million to offset the loss in revenue from their mill that was closed down.”

In addition to his concerns about the lack of infrastructure money to support major industrial projects, Bujtas said Terrace has a housing shortage, with occupancy rates near zero.

He pointed to a 2023 study that estimated Metro Vancouver had 4,821 homeless people out of a population of 2.643 million.

“That’s one out of every 548 people in Greater Vancouver who are homeless — that’s a crazy number,” said Bujtas. “Terrace has 13,000 people and 156 homeless. That means one out of every 83 is homeless, six times the rate of the Greater Vancouver area.

“I said that to the premier: ‘If you were to give the Greater Vancouver area the same homeless rate as Terrace per capita, you would make the entire city of Langley homeless tomorrow, and if you had that kind of homeless rate in the Lower Mainland you would declare a state of emergency.’”

COMMUNITY

What’s happening in PG

Speed Dating at the Dudley goes Thursday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at 5787 Albert Place. This is a lively evening of connection, conversation and fun where you can meet other singles in the community. This is for those 19+, five-minute dates, smooth rotating rounds, LGBTQ+ friendly space. No pressure, friendly atmosphere. Purchase $20 tickets in person at The Dudley and fill out the questionnaire.

Lunch & Learn with Ray Olson goes Thursday, Feb. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Prince George & District Seniors Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St. Historian Ray Olson will be presenting a chat and slide show about the history of Sinclair Mills and area, talking about the logging industry of the past and sharing personal stories of growing up there. The talk is free, soup, sandwiches and treats are available or if you prefer a full hot lunch it’s $9 for members and $10 for everyone else.

Ack Up or Shack Up Stand Up Comedy Show goes Friday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. at the House of Ancestors Conference Centre, 355 Vancouver St. Auntie Tic Comedy is presenting this event featuring Levi ‘Firefox’ Heathcliff, Sara Jones, MC Skye Wilson and Auntie Tic. Tickets are $22 at www.prince-george/ack-up-orshack-up-stand-up-comedy-show

Love, Lights & Jazz goes Friday, Feb. 13 or Saturday, Feb. 14 with seating at 5:30 p.m. at Treasure Cove Resort, 2005 Highway 97 South. Guests will enjoy an elegant atmosphere, exceptional service and a thoughtfully designed four-course menu. The smooth sounds of jazz will set the mood to celebrate the evening in style. For all the details and to purchase tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ love-lights-jazz-a-valentines-dinner-toremember

Full Monty Early Valentine Show goes Friday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. at Crush Nightclub, 1192 Fifth Ave. Canada’s hottest exotic male entertainers – the men of Body Heat travel across Canada to put on the ultimate Ladies’ Night show. For more information and tickets visit www.showpass.com/

Matthew Brand enjoys a ride on the ice slide in front of city hall during Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 at Veteran’s Square. Winterfest returns Saturday, Feb. 14.

ladies-night-prince-george

Early Bedtime Club Valentine’s Day Bash goes Saturday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 11 p.m. This Valentine’s Day, bring your special someone out for an unforgettable night and help raise funds to build water wells in Africa. It will be a Valentine’s Day filled with great music and good vibes. This event is designed for you to dance to the best hits of the 1990s and 2000s that raised your generation and you can still make it home in time to tuck yourself in like the responsible adult you pretend to be. For all the details and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ early-bedtime-club-valentines-day-bash Forest to Fork: Wild Eats & Treats

Social goes Saturday, Feb. 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at St. Michael’s Orthodox Ukrainian Church, 2793 Range Road. Presented by Moose, Mushrooms and Mud and North Waters Wildcraft offers a social gathering featuring Yorkshire pudding with a smoked morel and wild mushroom gravy, with a wild berry Yorkshire pudding for dessert. The social events is geared for like-minded people to explore wild food and gain some ideas of what can be done with it. Cost is $25 per person and for all the

details on how to register visit /www. facebook.com/events/ForesttoFork

Valentine’s Day Fantasy Ball Fundraiser goes Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Columbus Community Centre, 7299 Domano Blvd. Royal Canadian Sea Cadets 158 Grizzly are hosting this masquerade ball fundraiser. Ticket includes delicious food, non-alcoholic drinks, a dance floor with live DJ, photo op area, free shuttle service home if needed. Cash bar on site, 50/50 draw and door prize. Tickets are $150 each,19+. For tickets email princegeorge@bcmainland. ca or call Robinlee at 236-331-5305.

Downtown Prince George Winterfest goes Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canada Games Plaza. This is a family-friendly celebration featuring free ice skating, face painting, street hockey, mini train rides, food trucks and music from DJ Ant. Inside the Civic Centre, explore Exhibitor Alley, a market filled with local treasures and enjoy interactive activities in partnership with Two Rivers Gallery and the PG Library. Step back outside for the s’mores contest, where local businesses and charities team up to create one-of-a-kind s’mores. All proceeds go to the participating charity of their choice and tasters get to

vote for their favourite.

Legends Live presents the Diva Show 2 goes Sunday, Feb. 15 at OM Pizza Bar Café, 1970 Ospika Blvd. Marilyn, Britney and Gaga are back and they’ve brought new friends Madonna, Sabrina and Tina out to celebrate and pay tribute the most legendary divas of all time. Incredible impersonators, fabulous costumes and amazing live vocals will be showcased at the Divas bring all their pop power. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ legends-live-presents-the-diva-show-2 Haywire Honky Tonk goes Friday, Feb. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hart Highlands Winter Club (Hart Ski Hill), 3740 Winslow Dr. Haywire Honky Tonk is a country rock duo from P.G. that will keep your toes tapping and have you singing along all night. Group consists of Darrel Randall and John Heroux. Admission is free and there’s a concession and drinks available.

Britt AM, Tarantula Hawk & Bug Riot goes Saturday, Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. at the Legion PG 43, 101-1116 Sixth Ave. Triple bill night at the PG Legion with post-punk/alt rock artist Britt AM, doomy stoner rock band Tarantula Hawk and raw folk-punk songwriter Bug Riot. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 advance. For details and tickets visit www.madloon.ca/tickets/britthawkbug Cupcake & Glam Event goes Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Northwood Plaza Hotel & Banquet Hall, 2280 John Hart Hwy. This third annual fun-filled ladies night is full of fashion, shopping, prizes and contests and is presented by Madison Avenue Fashions and Style You Up. Ticket gets you a swag bag, entry into door prizes and a trip to the cupcake bar. Must be in attendance to win prizes. Shop 12 curated local small businesses. There’s a fashion show, beauty demos, lingerie show and stiletto contest. Must be 19 to attend. Tickets available at Madison Ave Fashions or Style You Up salon.

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2SLGBTQIA+ Voice & Culture Summit goes Friday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre. Presented by the Northern BC Queer Connection Society this is a groundbreaking, community-centred cultural gathering filled with storytelling, creativity and celebration, bringing together 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, artists, advocates, and service providers from across the region. Morning session features community arts & l and in the evening there is a gala to celebrate Northern BC’s vibrant queer community with an evening of performances, including drag, live music, and more. For all the details and tickets visit www.eventbrite. ca/e/2slgbtqia-voices-culture-summit-tickets

Patchwork of Talent Group Variety Show goes Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association, 1692 Tenth Ave. The fun-loving group offers skits, jokes, songs and fun. Tickets are $10 each and are on sale now at ECRA.

Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event goes Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. and starts at St; Giles Presbyterian Church, 1500 Edmonton St. This annual fundraiser is presented by AWAC Association Advocating for Women and Community. This is a family-friendly two or five kilometre fundraising walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness. All net proceeds stay in the community to support charity partners. To register or donate to a team visit https://cnoy.org/location/ princegeorge

BC Old Time Fiddlers’ Dance goes Saturday, Feb. 28 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Senior Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick. Live fiddle music is featured for polkas, waltzes, two-steps, barn dances and called group dances. A great family event. Prizes and ice cream bar snacks included. Coffee, water, pop and chips

COMMUNITY

available by donation. Everyone is welcome. Tickets at the door are only $10 for adults, children with parents are free.

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.

Parkinson Support Group meetings are the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Meetings are informal and are for sharing information about slowing down the progression of PD. There are guest speakers, special events and biweekly exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Use lower parking lot beside ball diamond to access the seniors centre.

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.

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

Fun in the sun

Spring-like weather might have meant a few changes to the Prince George Iceman on Sunday, Feb. 8, but it didn’t slow down the competitors

Comedian explores her family history in new docuseries

Sara Jones will be onstage here in PG on Friday, Feb. 13

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Sara Jones, a recipient of a $10,000 Telus StoryHive grant, has created a docuseries, Finding Home, about her family’s history, which is now available on YouTube.

“The initial outline for the grant was that it had to be six episodes and 150 minutes long, so that was my starting-off point, and then I just figured I would do as much digging, learning and figuring out in six episodes and 150 minutes,” Jones said with a smile.

“So that’s where it started, and the docuseries was the kickoff to changing a lot for myself personally and figuring out who I am. I still feel like I am learning about everything, and it’s a process that never really ended — it started with the documentary.”

Jones’s mother was adopted, and the family later discovered she was part of the ’60s Scoop, during which Indigenous children were taken from their families.

According to the University of British Columbia’s Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, between approximately 1951 and 1984, an estimated 20,000 or more First Nations, Métis and Inuit infants and children were taken from their families by child welfare authorities and placed for adoption, mostly in non-Indigenous households. This mass removal of Indigenous children from their homes was supported by a series of government policies.

As Jones continued her research, she also embarked on a personal journey of growth while exploring her family’s history.

“When we went back in my mom’s history, it was no secret that she was in foster care, and my mom kept all the paperwork from that time,” Jones said. “Some of it came as a shock — boom — while other moments were like pieces of the puzzle falling into place.”

It continues to be a journey of discovery for Jones.

Her next Telus StoryHive grant supports a six-episode video podcast series featuring artists, called The Sound of the North, which focuses on conversations with artists and musicians in Prince George.

“It’s different from the other docuseries,” Jones said.

“I wanted to do a project where I could find fun and lightness in it because the first project — I didn’t realize how emotional and heavy that was going to be. I knew I wanted to tell the story, but I didn’t know the depths of it. Right now, the video podcast I’m doing should be wrapped up by the end of

need to know about it because it’s a secret little treat to be a part of it.”

That provided a natural segue to Jones’s next project.

The Ack Up or Shack Up Comedy Show takes place Friday, Feb. 13, at the House of Ancestors and features Levi “FireFox” Heathcliff, Auntie Tic, MC Skye Wilson and Jones.

Jones said she got her start as the funny one in her family and friend circle before deciding to enter a comedy competition.

“It was being put on in town by some established comedians, and 2023, after having a baby in 2022, was the year I wanted to push my personal boundaries,” Jones said.

“I had just come into motherhood and I was really looking for a way to find myself. I had always thought about doing some sort of onstage performance, but I didn’t know what that was because I can’t sing, I can’t play an instrument. I’ve always just been a huge fan of local comedy. Back in the day, Nancy O’s used to have comedy every second Thursday of the month, and I would go religiously.”

There was something about being able to say what she wanted and get away with it — as long as it was turned into a joke — that appealed to her, Jones said.

the month and released in the coming weeks through Telus StoryHive.”

The premise of the podcast is that where people live influences what they create, especially when it comes to music and art.

“Prince George is a very unique place in the sense that we’re a northern community often referred to as smaller — we’re not like a metro city or anything like that,” Jones said. “We have four seasons, we have so much cultural history here, and I really think that has a lot to do with how people spend their free time and get creative because we have an incredible arts scene in Prince George.

“The music and visual art are so vibrant here, and I feel like more people

“Finding the humour in sometimes really weird or dark things — even traumatic things — is something I started to look at as an art form,” she said.

“It was an expression of who you are. When I entered the competition, I was just doing it as something for me — new year, new me, I’m a new mom, I’ve got to do something. I sent them a message letting them know I wanted to participate, and I thought by the time they replied I could change my mind, but they replied instantly, saying, ‘OK, we’ll see you on Saturday.’ I thought, ‘Well, I’m committed now.’”

Jones placed third in the competition. She said the group of contestants encouraged one another, and it did not feel overly competitive.

Even in winter,

the mail will get through

Mushers head down the trail on the first day of the Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run at Troll Ski Hill near Quesnel on Friday, Feb. 6. The three day event, a real Canada Post mail delivery run from Quesnel to Wells and Barkerville, has been celebrating the old way of getting the mail through every year since 1992. EIghteen teams took part this year.

PAT SUTER PHOTO

Comedy opens new storytelling doors, says Sara Jones

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“We all wanted each other to do our best, which was really cool,” Jones said.

“Coming into the competition, I didn’t know what to expect. I was thinking I could go up there and people would just stare at me and it would be crickets, or it could be really funny — and it was really funny. People loved it. From that, other comedians in the room noticed me and asked if I wanted to do opening spots for them when they did local shows and even shows in the region.”

Local comedian Kylie Lewis Holt later took Jones under her wing, bringing her along on a regional comedy tour.

“We did a lot of communities between here and Prince Rupert, and she showed me the ropes and gave me some really good pointers on how to come across as funny while being authentic in telling your own story,”

Jones said.

“It really snowballed super fast with comedy, which was really cool because it felt like something I was meant to do.”

Jones later performed standup comedy in Vancouver at Comedy Here Often and recorded a live set in 2024. Since then, she has continued collaborating with other comedians.

“When big headliners come through, I’ll reach out and ask if I can do a five-minute opening spot as a local comedian, and they’ve all been super welcoming,” Jones said.

“So I’ve been taking opportunities as they show up and trying to make new ones where I can.”

Jones said her comedy is rooted in her lived experiences.

“One of the main components of my comedy is telling the story of my mom being a ’60s Scoop survivor and what it’s like to grow up disconnected from your family and your culture,” she said.

“Some of the subjects are heavy — when you hear the words ’60s Scoop,’ you don’t think comedy — but I try to tie in humour so people are laughing with you while they’re understanding that these are real lived experiences. It makes people think.”

Jones said comedy stages have traditionally featured a narrow range of voices.

“So having diversity and people from different backgrounds sharing their stories and experiences is really what I want to bring it back to,” she said.

“It’s kind of therapeutic for me to say what I want to say and get it off my chest. The healing really comes into play when I do comedy because I can express myself without being quiet, ashamed or embarrassed. People are listening and enjoying it. Comedy has been a really cool tool in my personal growth.”

Jones said her family has been extremely supportive of her comedy journey.

“I live here in Prince George, born and raised, so I have my sisters, my mom and my children here,” she said. “Both my sisters are extremely supportive, my grandma thinks I’m hilarious, and my aunt does too. They’re all going on this journey with me, and my mom will even help me write jokes.

“She’ll say, ‘Oh, you should throw that in there — do you remember this one time?’ I’ve had a lot of support from my family, and it definitely helps keep me going and feeling like I’m on the right track.”

For all the details and tickets for Ack Up or Shack Up Comedy Show on Feb. 13 visit www.auntie-tic-comedy. com/ack-up-or-shack-up-comedy-show and check out the first episode of Finding Home at www.youtube.com/ findinghomesarajones

Coldsnap warms up winter with four days of music

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Coldsnap 2026 has wrapped up, with thousands across Prince George attending concerts, workshops and free-to-attend mini-concerts.

This nationally recognized music festival has brought together local, regional and national artists to perform on stages in Prince George in what is now one of the city’s most well-known artistic exports.

Katherine Benny, communications manager and producer for Coldsnap, spoke to The Citizen about what she heard from both musicians and locals who attended the week of events, big and small.

“Coldsnap was absolutely wonderful. We really saw a lot of enthusiastic feedback from our community, both at our free-to-attend events as well as our ticketed concerts, and I think our musicians will leave this place feeling very, very special … We saw really wonderful attendance, including multiple sold-out shows, as well as really great attendance and feedback on our freeto-attend events, such as our ice jams — just record-breaking numbers — and the first time we’ve ever done a square dance.”

Coldsnap gives more than just a reprieve from the winter season with warm community and music, but also gives those in the music scene and locals a chance to connect with music they may not have experienced before, Benny explained.

“People generally really love having something to do in that winter shoulder season that you can’t really get anywhere else,” said Benny. “That is a highlight of the wintertime — or in this case, this year, kind of a green time. I think it gives people something to look forward to and ways to connect with music that they otherwise wouldn’t because they know that they can trust us to put on a great show, even if they don’t recognize the name.”

Benny also announced during the final concert of Coldsnap 2026, Rural Roots, that going forward, Coldsnap will

be partnering with Lheidli T’enneh to help bring more music and culture to the community.

“We’ve entered into a multi-year agreement with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, where for the next five years Coldsnap, the festival, will be supported financially by Lheidli T’enneh First Nation because they see the value in what we bring to our community, to Lheidli T’enneh and our work with reconciliation — for example, working with Kym Gouchie, our cultural liaison, to incorporate things like Dakelh language into our print materials, as well as recognizing and greeting Indigenous artists from across Canada into Lheidli T’enneh territory.”

Rural Roots, the final sold-out concert of Coldsnap’s 2026 run, brought together three well-known and celebrated regional folk and country artists at the Knox Performance Centre.

These included Pharis and Jason Romero, who have four Juno Awards and seven Canadian Folk Music Awards and are Prince George fan favourites; the Bentalls, who shared a unique blend of classic and contemporary folk sounds to an ecstatic crowd; and Sarah Jane Scouten, an accomplished songwriter and musician with a memorable voice and sound who has earned many accolades, including four Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Western Canadian

“I’ve always loved literature, loved writing short stories when it came to art, and I was in a lot of theatre, and I was writing poetry and short stories before I ever got into songwriting,” said Scouten. “It seemed pretty obvious that you would adopt perspectives that are not your own, or maybe embellish a perspective that you have an insight into and come up with characters. I know a lot of songwriters who don’t do that, and it really shocks them that I’m able to write — I adopt a character, and then I write from that perspective. But that’s just always seemed natural to me, probably as a theatre background, really. You take a character on and you embody it.”

Music Award and an International Folk Music Award.

The Citizen caught up with Scouten after Rural Roots wrapped up and spoke with her about what led her down the folk music path.

“I’ve always been singing,” said Scouten. “My dad, he’s a bluegrass guy, and I think the first evidence of it is a VHS video that I have of him teaching me Lace in Pretty Flowers by Willie P. Bennett ... So I was just obsessed with his songs because that’s what my dad taught me. It was almost like brainwashing.”

Scouten was living in rural Scotland when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and with tours cancelled and inspiration from local herbal medicine classes she was taking, she began songwriting again, bringing her unique narrative-driven voice to fans across Canada and around the world.

One of the standout aspects of Scouten’s body of work is her focus on narrative in music, with songs taken from unique perspectives, including a horse working during the 1930 oil boom and, most notably, a song from the perspective of a woman working and living during the First World War.

She told The Citizen that this narrative-driven focus comes from her background in theatre and her experience writing poetry and short stories.

Scouten also provided insight into her songwriting process and what drives her sound.

“Every song’s really different,” said Scouten. “Some songs are absolutely harrowing and you’ve got to suffer to get a song, or almost like the song is the silver lining of having suffered. Then sometimes it’s a way to process smaller things. Brass tacks, my method — often there’s just a line or a phrase or an idea, and then it’s work. You might get this momentary glimpse of inspiration, just a little melody, a little phrase, and then you have to sit down and force yourself to write the rest of the song. I don’t have that kind of stroke-of-lightning type of songwriting style. I believe that you just need to have some discipline and get it done.”

The sold-out concert at the Knox was also Scouten’s last stop on a three-week tour. She said both her performance during Rural Roots and her harmony singing workshop helped her connect with audiences during her time in Prince George.

“Well, it was gorgeous,” said Scouten. “I definitely had a really lovely time with them earlier in the day, where we did a harmony singing workshop at Omincena. I sort of felt like there were a lot of friends in the audience already. Playing to strangers can be kind of terrifying, but really it was just really sweet. Also, this is the last show of the tour, so it felt really special.”

Barkerville: The Series nominated for Heritage BC Award

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The show that took audiences behind the scenes of a living history museum and the lives of staff and re-enactors has received some well-deserved accolades from Heritage BC.

Barkerville: The Series has been nominated for a Heritage BC Award in the Education, Communications and Awareness category.

Heritage BC awards celebrate achievements in heritage conservation, education and community leadership across the province — something Barkerville does in spades.

The six-episode series features the stories of two new re-enactors to Barkerville: a cancelled Hollywood actor who comes to Barkerville to hide out and a Lhtako Dene woman who comes to the park to work.

Stewart Cawood, manager of public programming and media at Barkerville, told The Citizen that although staff do not know who nominated them for the award, they are nonetheless thankful and happy to be recognized in a category that hits close to home.

“For us, it just means that people are seeing that we’re working hard to tell honest stories about what Barkerville is, what the history is about, and that the history affected everybody who was here at the time and that history still has repercussions today,” said Cawood. “So even though the things that happened in Barkerville were 160 years ago, they still reverberate right up until right now. And for people to notice that and to recognize that is very important for us.”

With more than 10,000 views of the first season so far, Cawood said that if funding is secured, staff would be more than happy to film a second season. He added that the series has also brought more visitors to the park who had never heard of Barkerville before watching the show.

“The series was released at the end of June last year, and by mid-summer there were people who were like, ‘we’re here because we saw the series,’” said Cawood. “That was just really cool for

us. We didn’t expect it to have such a quick response in our visitation. I’m not talking thousands of people — I’m talking maybe a few dozen people have actually said this to us. But we were surprised by how quickly it was getting around and how many people had noticed it. There are also a lot of local people who have told us how much they loved watching it and that they have watched it multiple times. That makes us very happy.”

Cawood was particularly proud of the involvement of local First Nations in the project and noted how their participation helped the series flourish.

“The Gold Rush had a significant impact on the Indigenous peoples of BC, and we try to make sure that is reflected in our storytelling today in Barkerville,” said Cawood. “Barkerville is situated on the unceded ancestral territory of the Lhtako Dene Nation, shared with the Secwépemc peoples and others as well. Lhtako Dene was very important to us in the creation of this story because we wanted them represented by name in the series.

impacted by the nomination, as it affirms their goal of telling honest stories about history — something Cawood said he is happy to see recognized.

“For us, it just means that people are seeing that we’re working hard to tell honest stories about what Barkerville is about, what the history is about, and that the history affected everybody who

was here at the time and that history still has repercussions today,” said Cawood. “Even though the things that happened in Barkerville were 160 years ago, they still reverberate right up until right now. And for people to notice that and to recognize that is very important for us.”

Cawood added that the series may never have seen the light of day without the support of funders such as Oskiko Development and Cariboo Gold, as well as support from local First Nations and Heritage BC.

Cawood said he is hopeful about how the awards will play out but noted that Barkerville faces strong competition.

“We’re definitely up against some very tough competition and we’re very excited to see how the awards play out,” said Cawood. “We’re just really excited to be nominated and to be included among a great group of nominees.”

You can watch Barkerville: The Series at www.barkerville.ca.

February 22nd 2:00pm PG Playhouse

“We went and talked to chief and council to see how they would feel about that, how they would feel about us filming on their territory and having people from Lhtako Dene Nation cast in the show. They were very open to it and very excited to talk to us about that prospect, and we were able to make it happen. I don’t think the series would be as impactful as it is without their support.”

Staff at Barkerville were particularly

Get ready to rock around the clock with The Chevys

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

There’s been a rockabilly band in Prince George for the past decade or so, and you might not even know it.

The Chevys are Tim Yule on vocals and guitar, Brad Martin on vocals and drums and Dennis Smith on vocals and stand-up bass — yes, you read that right — stand-up bass. The trio has played in front of a full-to-the-brim CN Centre, appeared in the lineup at the BCNE mainstage, performed at the ColdSnap Music Festival and can be heard at many a café and pub, delivering a foot-stompin’ good time.

The band members aren’t surprised that some people don’t realize the distinctly vibrant, lively music they play is called rockabilly.

But once you know, you know.

The Chevys perform music from the golden age of rockabilly, featuring artists such as Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers, as well as more modern rockabilly from artists like Chris Isaak and the Stray Cats.

They have also expanded their repertoire by writing and performing original music. Their playlists now include

originals such as their latest song, Baby, Baby, Baby.

those primo gigs until we started writing our own stuff,” Yule said.

do — some fairly original, some that we’ve kind of made our own — and then we play our originals. There’s a

billy now. She loved it,” Yule said.

form and talk about the history of rock

for the last decade and recently released their latest single.

cross-section through that rockabilly theme, which makes us more than just a one-trick pony.”

“It’s more like an experience when you come to see us live,” Martin added.

“When we played in Williams Lake a while back, there were a lot of young people in the audience,” Yule said.

“They didn’t know what rockabilly was — even something from the Stray Cats is way before their time — so us playing anything from Del Shannon or Bill Haley or anything…”

“It was new to them,” Martin chimed in as Yule trailed off with a chuckle.

“You see them at first kind of listening, and then soon they come out on the dance floor.”

Yule recalled a recent show in

“That’s really what we’re all about. Another thing I love is that we look like a bunch of old guys, and sometimes it seems people are expecting some kind of jug band or something, and then we just blow them away — ‘holy smokes, these guys are just cookin’’ — we get a lot of that. People just don’t know what to expect.”

“There are similarities between rockabilly and punk, and there are even some very punk-esque songs that we do,” Martin added. “It’s got a very up-tempo, driving beat that really appeals to people who want to bounce around and have fun.”

“It’s a lot more energy than people expect, and we catch people off guard all the time,” Yule said.

and roll, Yule added.

“It’s all about bringing an old style of music to a new audience,” Martin said.

“A lot of these young people haven’t seen many live musicians play. They might have seen it on TV or have access to it on all their platforms, but to actually see someone in person playing guitar like Tim or Dennis with his stand-up bass — that’s something special.”

The energy of rockabilly helps engage audiences of all ages, Yule said.

“It always goes really well, and I think that’s because rockabilly is kind of youth-oriented,” he said.

“It appeals to the little kid in all of us.”

For more information and to hear The Chevys’ originals, including Baby, Baby, Baby, visit thechevysband.com/.

Library announces Jeanne Clarke history award winners

CITIZEN STAFF

The Prince George Public Library Board has announced the recipients of the 2026 Jeanne Clarke Local History Service Award, to be presented at an event later this month.

This year’s Service Award will honour Bill Poser, as well as Ray Olson and Linda Campbell, in recognition of their long-standing contributions to preserving and sharing local history.

Poser is being recognized for more than three decades of work documenting, preserving and revitalizing the Dakelh language and history.

His efforts have made a significant and lasting impact on Indigenous language research and cultural preservation in

the Prince George region and beyond. Olson and Campbell — she’s affectionately known as the “Train Lady” — are receiving the award for their work promoting the history of small towns and communities east of Prince George along the historic East Line. Through interpretive train visits, they have shared stories of pioneer life from 1914, when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway served as the main mode of transportation, through the mid-1960s, when road access and modern infrastructure connected the region to the rest of the province.

The awards ceremony will also feature a musical performance by local Indigenous author and musician Mike Gouchie, a nominee in the Publication

‘Train Lady’ Linda Campbell is among the recipients of this year’s Jeanne Clarke History Service Award.

Award category, who will perform an acoustic version of his song Shattered Glass.

The 41st annual Jeanne Clarke Local History Awards ceremony will take place Feb. 22 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre.

In addition to the Service Awards, the winner of the 2026 Jeanne Clarke Publication Award will be announced. The event is free to attend, with light refreshments provided.

Seating is limited, and attendees are asked to RSVP by calling 250-563-9251 ext. 128, emailing communications@ pgpl.ca, or registering online at www. pgpl.ca/node/8098.

A full list of nominees and more information about the awards is available at www.pgpl.ca/ jeanne-clarke-local-history-awards.

Former PG resident authors new ‘menopause thriller’

‘I called it a thriller because it’s a little bit scary navigating all of this’

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

It’s the book she never planned to write, and it’s called Welcome to the Club: A Menopause Thriller.

Kimberley Barnes lived in Prince George as a young child and returned at 19.

Her children were born and raised here during their early years as she began to build her career after completing her honours diploma in marketing and management at CNC. Barnes then went to work for the Prince George Cougars.

In her late 30s, Barnes moved south and spent 15 years as a marketing professional in the wine industry.

Barnes said she was trying to hold it all together as she navigated menopause.

“And that’s what it looked like on the outside, but I was falling apart on the inside,” Barnes said.

“As I progressed through my journey with menopause, I decided to start pouring it out onto some pages as part of that healing process,” she said.

She said writing the book came as a sudden inspiration.

“I never planned to write it,” Barnes said. “I was just sitting — we have a beautiful, tiny little place in the Cariboo — and I was sitting there in front of a cozy fire, enjoying the evening with a glass of wine, of course, and all of a sudden it came into my head and I just started pouring it out. I realized it was a story I needed to tell, which was quite shocking for me at first. I think in doing so and rereading the pages, it was healing.”

That happened last winter, and the work then sat for months and was never meant to go any further at the time, she added.

“I would re-read it and laugh, cry, relive it,” Barnes said.

She then began sharing it with a very small circle of people.

“It would come up in conversation with really close friends and family members, like my sisters who were going through it as well, and my mom, who is on the other side of it,” Barnes said.

“The response was really rewarding, just from the sense that they started sharing things with me about their journey, and that gave me a little bit of confidence because, in all honesty, I felt really vulnerable when I put it in writing,” she said.

“I kept sharing it and having conversations, talking about it with a circle that got a bit broader, and as time went on I knew I had to make a decision — either it had served its purpose — I’ve shared it, I’ve used it as a healing tool — and what do I do now? It was at that point when I really started thinking about taking it to that next level, and again that vulnerability made it really, really challenging for me.”

It was one thing to share it with friends and family.

“And thinking about it going out into the world, and working and living within the wine industry where we are a big family — and then all of a sudden putting that out there — I felt super vulnerable because I’m a professional and you conduct yourself accordingly, and then I am suddenly sharing a very intimate part of my life,” Barnes said.

Once the decision was made, Barnes said she wanted to do it right.

“So I invested in the cover and how it

was formatted,” she said. “I love the way it flows. It’s almost as if I was reading it out loud. The cover was very intentional. It’s a bit chaotic because menopause is chaotic. I took a lot of time and had a designer work with me to bring it to life because I wanted an everyday superhero who is going through all of these emotions and chaos. I wanted you to know right away that you’re going to laugh when you read this book.”

She said the book is for women of all ages.

“I called it a thriller because it’s a little bit scary navigating all of this,” Barnes said.

“So go ahead and judge this book by its cover because that’s something I really want people to do before they even open the pages.”

The book is available on Amazon at www.amazon.ca/welcome-tothe-club-menopause-thriller and at Indigo at www.indigo.ca/en-ca/

Welcome to the Club: A Menopause Thriller is penned by a former Prince George resident, Kimberley Barnes who shares her journey with humour.

Make a Meaningful Impact Volunteers Needed!

Are you compassionate, supportve, and ready to make a real diference in someone’s life?

We’re seeking volunteers for rewarding roles that uplif our community: Grief Facilitators

Ofer empathy, actve listening, and encouragement to individuals and families navigatng loss.

Resale Shop Volunteers (Worth Repeatng)

Help sort donatons, assist customers, and support a vital fundraising hub for our programs.

Connectng Monds through Compassionate Hearts (Dementa Program)

Provide kind, patent companionship and support to partcipants in our dementa-focused engagement programs.

√ Full training provided

√ Flexible opportunites to suit your schedule

√ Meaningful roles — both direct and indirect

Your tme helps strengthen hospice care, grief support programs, and families across our community.

Learn more or apply: pghpcs.ca/volunteer 250-563-2551

www.pghpcs.ca

11, 2011:

Feb. 12, 1964: Eight-monthold Connie Guttormson was weighed by public health nurse Mrs. Jack Nixon during a child health event as her mother, identi ed as Mrs. Einar Guttormson, and her older sister, whose name wasn’t given, look on. For decades, newspapers identi ed married women using their husbands’ rst names. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY

ROY FUJIKAWA

Feb. 14, 1977: A mild winter meant snow had to be trucked to the Spruceland parking lot for the Mardi Gras broomball tournament. A bulldozer was then used to spread it around. In the background, note Spruceland News and the old Overwaitea sign on what is now Save-On-Foods.

FILE

UNBC ofers streamlined pathway to becoming an RN

Program accelerates training for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Starting this September, the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) will be offering a new accelerated learning pathway that enables actively practising licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to transition to a career as a registered nurse (RN).

This new pathway will be part of the current two-year Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program (NBNP) at the UNBC School of Nursing.

Comprising Year 3 and Year 4 of the UNBC Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree, the LPN Pathway will be offered at UNBC’s campuses in Fort St. John and Prince George.

As part of the program requirements, interested applicants must be registered as LPNs with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and have at least two years of experience in acute care settings in BC.

Students in the LPN Pathway will learn alongside other students in the NBNP program through a combined cohort model at both the Fort St. John and Prince George campuses.

“The NBNP was created to build on an individual’s previous post-secondary education, enabling students to complete their undergraduate nursing degree in a shorter timeframe,” said Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, dean, Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, UNBC. “The new LPN Pathway is a natural extension of that foundational intent, providing interested LPNs across the North with the opportunity to pursue advanced education in their field, while also preparing graduates to deliver high-quality health care to northern and rural communities.”

The new pathway will use seats already allocated to the NBNP program,

with an ongoing goal of filling half with LPN Pathway students. Currently, there are 16 NBNP seats in Fort St. John and 24 in Prince George, with these seats including priority seating for Indigenous students.

The program will be delivered over five consecutive semesters. The LPN Pathway will be a full-time program of combined theoretical and clinical coursework, including experiential learning such as simulation, laboratory and clinical placements in northern communities.

UNBC Interim President Bill Owen advocates for this upcoming pathway and explains that UNBC has been working for years with both the academic community and the BC government to bring this program to the university.

“This program’s been in the works for several years,” said Owen.

“It really goes back to conversations with licensed practical nurses who have been asking us to create a pathway into the Bachelor of Nursing that would

nurse would take a stop out from their career for about five semesters — so it’s an accelerated program — and then rejoin the health-care system as a registered nurse.”

With recent gaps in health-care staffing and recruitment, Owen added that he hopes this new program can help fill those gaps with nurses who have learned and trained in the communities they will serve.

recognize their experience in education. Now, it takes time to have consultations both within the academic community, but also with the professional accrediting boards and with the ministry to make sure that everything is appropriate and lined up. We’ve been able to do that, and we’re here to celebrate the fact that we’re opening that pathway come September.”

Owen, in particular, was excited that nursing students would have the option for further education in the North and spoke about the need for this program in the community.

“We’ve heard stories of nurses who have left the system,” said Owen. “Because, for example, with licensed practical nurses, part of the issue was that they would have to start a brand new degree from scratch, which would be another four years of education. So they’ve gone on to other careers, etc. This is an attempt to help support Northern Health in terms of having an option where the licensed practical

“I’m really excited that this program is finally getting launched,” said Owen. “It’s been a community request, a community need. It supports Northern Health and last year, when I was up in Fort St. John, one of the things that impressed me most was that there were nine grads, nursing grads, all of them were staying in the region. Seven were staying in Fort St. John, one was going to be in Chetwynd and the other one in Dawson Creek and that shows the impact of the program — that when you train in the North they stay in the North — and so as a person who occasionally needs a nurse as a citizen it’s excellent that we’ve got the opportunities here to train and keep students in the North.”

In addition to ensuring that more RNs are trained in the North, Owen predicts that this program will further education across the North long after students leave campus.

“The other component is that we know that some of these RNs end up helping educate future students through proctoring and other opportunities within the health-care system,” said Owen.

“We’re increasing capacity for not only nursing but we’re also increasing the capacity for nurse education in Northern BC.”

The application period for the LPN Pathway is currently open, and applications will continue to be accepted until March 9, 2026. To apply, and for further information, visit the LPN Pathway webpage at this link:

To apply, and for further information, visit the LPN Pathway webpage at this link: https://www.unbc.ca/nursing/ licensed-practical-nurse-pathway-nbnp

Local Sports Sunny and mild for Iceman: No skatng, no problem

Races were different this year with the Ice Oval and the Aquatic Centre both closed

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Chris Pendray had no idea he’d won the Prince George Iceman.

This was a year of change for the 39th annual multisport endurance race, bringing new challenges that disrupted the usual indicators during the race of where he stacked up in the order.

That forced the 36-year-old wildland firefighter to rethink his racing strategies for the iconic Prince George event that brought him success in 2018, when he won his first solo men’s title.

Warm weather melted the 400-m outdoor ice oval, so there was no skating and no open views of who was creeping up on him or who he had to catch.

The Prince George Aquatic Centre is closed for repairs, so a new route for the five-kilometre run had to be figured out to take Iceman competitors to the 25-m confines of the Canfor Leisure Pool downtown.

And once he jumped in the pool, Pendray and the hundreds of swimmers who followed in his wake had a new configuration to learn that involved four lengths in one pool and two lengths in the other, a process repeated four times for the adults and twice for the junior racers.

But Pendray got through it all without mishap and pushed his wristband timing chip across the sensor as the fastest soloist.

“It was a lot shorter this year,” said Pendray. “The conditions were really fast in the ski and in the running it wasn’t slippery at all. Skiing was probably my strength this year. I haven’t done much running lately. I was taking it easy a bit on the ski and I was kind of middle

of the pack.”

Pendray could have been a three-time Iceman champion but in 2017, with his legs cramping in the pool, he stopped racing as soon as he touched the wall on his final length, not knowing he had to get out of the water and run his timing chip across the pool deck sensor to stop the clock. Cam McNamara beat him by four seconds. Pendray learned that harsh lesson, trained harder for the 2018 race and won it by 11 minutes.

Juliette Davies, 26, won her second straight Icewoman crown, finishing ahead of second-place Liz Hirsch and third-place Cara McCulloch.

“It feels really good. I didn’t feel quite as prepared this year, so I was just committed to going out and having fun, and that’s what I did,” said Davies.

“It was a tough slog. I was mentally

prepared to have that break and when I found out the skate was cancelled it was a bit disappointing. It’s an iconic part of the Iceman, so even though it’s not my strongest event it’s still a shame it couldn’t happen. This year I had speed skates so I was ready.”

She recovered from a couple of mishaps on the ski trails.

“I fell twice on the first lap,” said Davies, a third-year medical student. “It was entirely on me. I just caught edges going downhill. I didn’t think it would be so soft and it was getting a bit rutty.

“The fact they managed to pull it together was great. Last year was fun because it was so new to me. I’d never done it before and it was the full thing, with the skate, but this is still pretty sweet.”

Davies missed not being able to swim

in the 50-m pool at the Aquatic Centre.

“I just noticed there were a lot more people, especially at the turnarounds, and in the lanes you didn’t have nearly as much time to pass, so it was a bit more chaotic,” she said.

Fifty-five adult soloists, 83 adult relay teams and 14 junior relay teams competed in Sunday’s race. There were a total of 474 registrants. All except the team skaters got to race.

McCulloch, 35, the 2017 Icewoman champion, broke her ankle running on an icy road in January 2025 and needed surgery and a metal plate to repair the damage.

She felt the pain of her injury throughout her race Sunday but still managed to reach the podium.

O’Dine ‘heartbroken’ as injury sidelines her at Olympics

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Meryeta O’Dine will not get to compete in her third Olympics.

The 28-year-old snowboard cross racer from Prince George broke her ankle in a training run at Livigno Snow Park in Italy on Friday, Feb. 6, sidelining the two-time Olympic medalist indefinitely.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canada Snowboard confirmed her injury on Saturday, Feb. 7.

“I’m heartbroken,” said O’Dine. “But I am proud of the work I put in this year. After I fractured my ankle this year (at a training camp in Austria) in November, I was able to show myself a new level of dedication, passion and hard work to return stronger. I have seen a new athlete in myself emerge from the challenges I have faced this year and will continue to rise above.

“I am upset now but will grow from this.”

O’Dine won two bronze medals at

Two-time Olympic bronze medal winner Meryeta O’Dine shows off her new medals upon her arrival in Prince George after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China.

the Beijing Olympics in 2022. After her third-place finish in the women’s solo event, she teamed up with men’s silver medalist Eliot Grondin of Saint-Marie,

Que., to win bronze in the mixed team event.

Her determination to crawl up a hill on the Beijing course to continue in the

mixed event after she was wiped out by another competitor who landed on her back will go down in Canadian Olympic history as an example of O’Dine’s sheer will to reach the podium.

Currently ranked 16th in the World Cup standings, O’Dine was coming off a fourth-place finish at last year’s world championships when she first broke her ankle.

In 2018 at the Olympics in PeongChang, South Korea, O’Dine suffered a concussion in a training run and was not able to compete.

In other Olympic news, Tess Critchlow of Kelowna, who was born in Prince George, will also be sidelined for the Olympics. The 30-year-old underwent knee surgery in September and was not ready to compete in what would have been her third Olympic competition. She finished ninth in 2018 in PyeongChang and was sixth in 2022 in Beijing.

The Games opened Friday, Feb. 7 and continue until Feb. 22.

For updates on how local athletes are doing, visit www.pgcitizen.ca.

Iceman racers competed in -20 C conditons last year

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“I wasn’t as fit as I was in 2017 but it’s nice to get out,” she said. “I just signed up so I would have something to train for.”

James Sader, 29, the defending Iceman champion, and 59-year-old Barry Nakahara were second and third respectively in the men’s solo race.

The ski course was five laps of a 1.6km loop and Sader was on his third lap when another skier ran over his pole and broke it.

“The snow was hard enough you could make do with just one pole. It was just good to see everybody out,” said Sader. “The ski segment was hard but they made it work for how warm it is here.”

The constant pounding of running for 15 km without a break meant leg cramps in the pool were common.

Sader said it was better for him this year because of the warmer weather, but he still felt that pain.

“I didn’t take swimming lessons this year so it was tricky — a lot more getting out of the pool, just saving my

legs. It was mostly arms,” said Sader, a fourth-year medical student at UNBC.

“Every time I noticed cramps I slowed down a bit.

“It was a lot warmer. Last year was totally different with the minus-20

conditions. I had a bit more cramping last year. I didn’t have to do the skate, which might have been advantageous for me. It’s just nice being out there.”

Nakahara figures he’s raced in 25 of the 39 Iceman competitions and 11 or 12 were as a solo competitor.

“This is the weirdest one I’ve done so far,” said Nakahara.

“You’ve got the porch pool here. It’s so warm in this pool. I was starting to cramp on the 5K. Normally that doesn’t happen.”

Nakahara is a strong skier but says his best Iceman segment usually is the skate, which obviously didn’t happen Sunday.

“It probably wouldn’t have changed my position but I might have closed a minute on James here,” he said. “It’s just fun. Lots of people I know here, lots of family and friends. It’s a good event. It’s a PG classic.”

Cougars split weekend home games with Rockets

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

That’s the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, they like it.

It’s been a couple of weeks since KC and the Sunshine Band got some airplay at the end of a game Saturday at CN Centre, but the Prince George Cougars deserved to hear their traditional postgame serenade sendoff after a convincing 4-1 win over the Kelowna Rockets. They turned the tables on a Rockets team that beat them 3-2 on Friday. The big difference for the Cougars was they didn’t take stupid penalties and, when they were shorthanded, they had their best penalty killer, Josh Ravensbergen, on the case.

He was his usual sensational self, stopping 31 of 32 shots to backstop the Cougars (30-19-2-0) to their 30th win of the season. He came into the game with a .917 save percentage, third-best in the WHL, and certainly improved on those numbers Saturday, much to the frustration of the Rockets (26-19-5-2).

“He’s an NHL first-round draft pick for a reason,” said Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb. “This is exactly what we expect of him every night. He practices like that, he plays like that — enjoy it while he’s here.”

With the game still scoreless, the Rockets’ offence sparked to life in the latter half of the first period and what was a 7-2 shot deficit for Kelowna at the 10-minute mark suddenly turned into a 10-8 advantage 15 minutes in. But Ravensbergen was there to bail his team out as he so often does, stopping all 14 shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes.

The second game of the Cougars’ Indigenous Weekend doubleheader drew a crowd of 5,794 and it didn’t take them long to get into it. Brock Souch gave them all they needed to raise the decibel level at CN Centre.

Souch had a bee under his bonnet from the get-go, just as he did in Friday’s loss to the Rockets. Centring a potent forward line with Dmitri Yakutsenak and Terik Parascak, he gave the Cougars some early momentum off the first

Cougars forward Cole Hajt catches Rockets defenseman Rowan Guest on the boards and ties him up as the puck bounces up and away at CN Centre Saturday, Feb. 7. The Cougars were wearing special uniforms for Indigenous Weekend.

power play of the game three minutes in and they thoroughly tested goaltender Josh Banini, who was returning from an eye injury for his first start in a month.

In the first period alone, the 19-yearold Cougars centre used his speed to fire off a great chance on a backhander Banini saved. Souch then banged one off the goalpost on a breakaway with Nate Corbet on his back and, later in the period, he rifled a between-the-legs shot off Banini’s shoulder while traversing the crease.

Not to be denied, Souch finally found the back of the net with half a second left in the period, set up on a perfect feed from Carson Carels while the teams were playing 4-on-4. Carels carried the puck at speed behind the net and curled into the right circle to spin a pass to an open Souch, standing on Banini’s doorstep, for a 1-0 lead.

“He could have had three or four goals in the first period and he finally scored one with hardly any time on the clock — just a relentless worker,” said Lamb.

“I think Dmitri could have had five or

sent off for an undisciplined roughing penalty, Yakutsenak, Parascak and Souch hooked up again for the night’s second power-play goal, almost a carbon copy of the first. That made it 4-0 near the end of the second period.

“The chemistry’s there right now, we’re playing well and we just have to keep that going,” said Souch, referring to his line. “Dmitri is so strong on his stick, even on faceoffs. He’s starting to take more faceoffs and winning them. He’s a bigger guy and he’s pretty good at what he does.”

The Cougars finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Kelowna was 1-for-4.

“It definitely helped that we didn’t take as many penalties as Friday and our penalty kill was really good tonight, so that helped,” said Souch. “This was a pivotal game for our division. We’re still three points up on them, so that helps a lot.”

six also. But they’ve got some chemistry and they’re our best players.”

Yakutsenak collected two goals, his 19th and 20th — the third multi-goal game of his rookie WHL season — and defenceman Arsenii Anisimov also scored for the Cougars, who ended a two-game slide.

The Cougars were on their fourth power play of the game when Yakutsenak cashed in with a wrist shot from the high slot that went in over Banini’s glove. Parascak drew the primary assist, the 150th helper of his WHL career. That came 6:52 into the second period.

The Cougars continued to pound away in the offensive zone and they didn’t score on another power play chance when the Rockets were caught with too many men, but the line of Aiden Foster, Townes Kozicky and Kayden Lemire created chaos with their aggressive forechecking and were rewarded for it. They got the puck back to Anisimov and from the top of the circle he cranked off a wrister that found the net for his sixth.

Seconds after Owen Folstrom was

Folstrom ended Ravensbergen’s bid for his second shutout 7:45 into the third period on a Kelowna power play. The Rockets generated some great chances after that — Ty Halaburda was robbed by Ravensbergen’s glove hand, the 19-year-old goalie made another electrifying stop on defenceman Rowan Guest and also turned aside a hot shot from Tij Iginla late in the game.

“He’s so good,” said Souch. “No matter the game, he’s always keeping us in it. No matter if he has 20 shots in the first period or three, he’s there to stop them. He’s incredible.”

The Cougars’ four-game homestand comes to an end Friday, Feb. 13, when they host the Kamloops Blazers in the first of a home-and-home series that continues Saturday, Feb. 14, in Kamloops. That will be the start of an eight-game road trip, the longest of the season for the Cougars. They play on Family Day Monday, Feb. 16, in Penticton, then head to the East Division with games in Swift Current (Feb. 20), Moose Jaw (Feb. 21), Brandon (Feb. 24), Regina (Feb. 25), Saskatoon (Feb. 27) and Prince Albert (Feb. 28).

The Cougars will return to the CN Centre March 6 to face the Spokane Chiefs.

Spruce Kings now in frst place in BCHL Coastal East

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

First place sure has a nice ring to it for the Prince George Spruce Kings. Their 4-2 win Saturday in Victoria over the Grizzlies got them there and they’re now all alone atop the BC Hockey League’s Coastal East Division.

Defenceman Trent LeDrew set the tone for Prince George, scoring his first goal of the season just 12 seconds into the game.

The Grizzlies tied it on a goal from Michael Dowdall, but the Spruce Kings clicked on the power play later in the first period when Tai Ushio notched his team-leading 23rd goal to restore the lead.

It remained a 2-1 game until Parker MacDougall connected on a Victoria power play, 15:05 into the second period. Dominic Szczygiel put the Kings in front 3-2 with five minutes gone in the third period and Mason Loewen

added an empty-netter with less than two minutes to play to seal the win. For Lowen, a 19-year-old native of Charlie Lake, it was his 11th goal of the season and sixth goal in the past nine games.

Ryder Green made 21 saves to improve his season record to 13-4.

The Kings outshot the Grizzlies 43-23.

Prince George has been one of the hottest teams in the BCHL. That was their seventh win in eight games and they finished off their four-game roadtrip with three wins and an overtime loss.

The Spruce Kings (24-13-2-0) are now two points ahead of the Coquitlam Express (23-13-1-1). The Express lost 7-3 Saturday to the Chilliwack Chiefs in Chilliwack. Coquitlam has played one fewer game than Prince George.

The Spruce Kings will meet the Express in a two-game set this weekend at the BCHL Road Show in Burns Lake. The teams play Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at Tom Forsythe Arena.

Spruce Kings defenceman Nick Bianchi (7) gets mobbed by his teammates after he scored his second goal of the game 7:57 into overtime to give the Kings a 4-3 win over the Nanaimo Clippers in Nanaimo on Friday, Feb. 6.

Internatonal judo tournaments bring out her best

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Olivia Wisniowski’s love for judo has turned her into a five-continent world traveller.

Just in the past year, the 15-year-old Northern Capital Judo Club member has competed in Brazil (South America), Tahiti, French Polynesia (Oceania), Scotland (Europe) and Montreal, Calgary and Los Angeles (North America).

Over the weekend of Jan. 23-24, Wisniowski added Africa to her continental resume when she won two medals at the Casablanca Cadet & Junior African Cup in Casablanca, Morocco.

Wisniowski topped the podium in the cadet +70-kilogram weight class and won silver in the senior women’s +78-kg class.

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the latest Judo Canada rankings were released and Wisniowski is ranked No. 1 in cadet women +70 kg and junior women +78 kg.

“Olivia is a very hard worker and she’s very coachable and has a really good attitude and she’s improved greatly in the past year,” said Northern Capital Judo Club instructor Sylvia Graf. “So if she can continue on this trajectory, I think it’s only her fourth year in judo, and for her to develop so quickly is pretty amazing. She’s a very strong girl.

“Her mom, Ashley, is a former wrestler and she’s really strong too, so I think it’s genetic.”

Wisniowski, a Grade 10 student at College Heights Secondary School, was the only female judoka from the eight-athlete Team BC contingent that competed in Morocco.

In other local results from the African Cup in Casablanca, Carla Van Zyl of the Hart Judo Academy (-63 kg) won gold in junior women’s and bronze in senior women’s. Yannick Schimann of the Hart Judo Academy (-60 kg) and Preston Holt of the Prince George Judo Club (-73 kg) each finished fifth in their cadet classes. Wisniowski’s big breakthrough started when she won two bronze medals in the U18 class at the Canadian Open National Judo Championships in

Fifteen-year-old Olivia Wisniowski of Prince George, centre, representing the Northern Capital Judo Club, won gold in the cadet +70 kg class at the Casablanca Cadet & Junior African Cup in Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday, Jan 24.

Calgary last May, and she continued her success in July with a bronze-medal finish at the Copas Minas tournament in Brazil.

Her remarkable progress continued at the Quebec Open in Montreal in November, where she won U18 gold and senior women’s silver. Then, at the Montreal Junior Pan Am tournament, she captured silver in the junior category and bronze in cadet.

Her December travels took her to Los Angeles for the U.S. Winter Nationals, where she won gold in cadet female and silver in the senior female class.

On Dec. 15, at the Tahiti Air Challenge Nui Cup in Tahiti, Wisniowski won three gold medals, capturing the U18 +69 kg and senior women +70 kg individual classes and the team event with Team BC.

Then, on Jan. 18 at the Scottish Open in Inverclyde, Scotland, she won gold

in junior women and silver in cadet, fighting in the +70-kg weight class. From Scotland, she flew to Casablanca.

Wisniowski will be in Abbotsford Friday, Feb. 6, Saturday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 8 and will be back on home turf for the Prince George Open on April 10. Nationals will be held in Calgary May 13-18.

Wisniowski’s 14-year-old sister, Kiya, is also on the provincial team and is heading on a fast track to national and international success. Kiya competed this past weekend at the Sask. Open in Regina and brought home bronze in the U18 -63 kg class and was fifth in the U16 class.

After watching his daughters learn judo at Northern Capital under head sensei Ivan Tilcik, Simon Wisniowski decided to join the club a couple of years ago. He also found his way to the medal podium in Regina, winning

bronze in the veterans M3-M5 -100 kg class.

Jason Zazelenchuk, whose seven-yearold granddaughter trains at Northern Capital, won gold in the veterans M5-M7 +100 kg class and was the silver medallist in the senior men’s +100 kg class. His Northern Capital clubmate, Paul Bryant, won silver in the veterans M2-M4 +100 kg class at the Sask. Open.

“Jason and Paul used to compete back when I was competing (as Sylvia Hausot) and now they’re both grandpas,” said Graf. “They started competing again last year and went to nationals last May, and Paul won silver and Jason came fourth, and they’ll be going again in May as veterans. We seem to have a lot of veterans in our club.”

Zazelenchuk was in New York last week, preparing for the 2026 Veterans Open New York City tournament on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Life Events

Louise Masson

May 27, 1940 - February 1, 2026

Sharon Louise Masson was born on May 27, 1940. She got her angel wings and le this earth on February 1, 2026, guided by the glow of the snow moon.

Sharon was surrounded by loved ones and music and was dancing untl the very end.

She is dancing with Elvis in heaven

We love and miss you mom.

Philip James Childs

November 7, 1926 - January 13, 2026

Father, Friend

Sadly, our father took his last breath on January 13, 2026. Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep with his family beside him. He was 99 years old. He really wanted to make 100!

Dad always perfected whatever he did. Dad became a sergeant at 18, of his Paratroopers Eighth Regiment for Her Majesty’s Forces in England for WW2. We loved hearing his stories of his service. Especially in Palestne with his mates. His biggest passion was always actng. Dad loved being part of the PG Playhouse Theatre. So many amazing productons and characters. He even made it to flms and tv!

Our father is now at rest and with the rest of our family that was awaitng him.

Dad will always be with us all in our hearts and our amazing memories.

March 7, 1952 - January 11, 2026

Vivian passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at her home in Nanoose Bay, BC, on January 11, 2026. She was 73 years old. During her year-long journey with cancer, Vivian faced illness with extraordinary courage, grace, and unwavering optmism ualites that defned her entre life.

Born on March 7, 1952, in Leoville, Saskatchewan, to osephat e urgeon and elores el n e a e . ivian grew up in nearby Spiritwood and later lived in Prince George, Kelowna, and Nanoose Bay.

She is survived by her husband, Graham Farstad; her children eo ngram and Eri a ngram raig son ipp stepchildren yler arstad le is Harlow and asper and ai a arstad homas and en her sisters da the late ruce nne e Simone ic and laude e the late orris en many nieces nephews the reat reats and e tended family.

elebraton of ife will be held on pril at pm at St. ary s nglican hurch in anoose Bay, BC. For a complete life story, the full obituary is available online through the Prince eorge itzen.

n lieu of owers donatons to a charity ivian volunteered for arine rails at h ps www.bcmarinetrails.org donate .

With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Arlene Byron on January 5, 2026, at the age of 83.

Arlene was born on August 4, 1942, in Barrie, Ontario, to Robert and Grace Brand, and was their only child.

She is lovingly remembered by her son Sco Sylvia her daughter Stefanie ayson and the true lights of her life—her grandsons Robert and Christopher. She is also survived by her beloved canine companion, Loki. Arlene was predeceased by her parents, her husband Alf, and her many cherished four-legged companions.

Arlene spent the majority of her life in Prince George, where she formed many lastng friendships. Her wor ing years included delivering mail for Canada Post, followed by working in Financial Aid and Trades at the College of New Caledonia.

n retrement rlene found oy in spending tme with family and friends, reading, doing puzzles and crosswords, ni ng and connectng with friends over co ee or lunch. She touched many lives and will be deeply missed for her kindness, her ability to connect with people, and her warm, sometmes spicy sense of humour.

n lieu of owers donatons may be made to an animal rescue of your choosing. rlene had a ferce love for dogs and supported them all, near and far.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Kim Morris April 2, 1971 – January 12, 2026

Kim Morris was born on April 2, 1971, and passed away on January 12, 2026. Though her life ended far too soon, the love she gave and the memories she created will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Kim was a loving wife to Cory Morris, and together they built a life grounded in love, partnership, and family. She was a devoted mother to Cole Morris and Logan Morris, and a proud grandmother to Myles, holding a special place in her heart for her growing family, including Robin and Charlote.

Kim was the beloved daughter of Clif and Isabelle Falkowsky, and a cherished sister to Brent and Warren Falkowsky, surrounded by a wide and loving extended family. She was a dear daughter-in-law to Al Morris and Marilyn Edel, and sister-in-law to Cam and Gwen Morris. Kim had a truly special bond with her cousin David Gaertner as well as her nieces and nephews, each of whom held a meaningful place in her heart.

To many, Kim was family — she was “Momma Kim” to her children’s friends, always welcoming, caring, and making everyone feel at home. Her warmth extended far beyond her own household.

Kim was an avid quilter, fnding joy and creatvity in every sttch. She loved spending tme with her family, her beloved dog Duke, and her many friends. Some of her happiest moments were spent on the ocean — cruising, fshing, and enjoying the peace of the water. She will be deeply missed by her quiltng friends, her Yukon friends, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Kim lived with kindness, generosity, and quiet strength. Her love was steady, her presence comfortng, and her heart always open. While Kim requested no service, her life will be remembered and honoured every day through the love she leaves behind.

In place of fowers, donatons in Kim’s name will be accepted at the Prince George Hospice, which took great care of her in her fnal days.

LIFE EVENTS

Margaret Elizabeth Louise Shane pril , anuary ,

It with deep sadness that Margie’s family announces her passing. She le this world peacefully, at home, a er her brave batle with cancer for over a year.

argie was a strong minded, sassy girl who was full of spirit. She said what was on her mind and lived life her way. She had a beautful smile and a huge heart. argie was an inspiraton to many of us as she gracefully dealt with her disease. She was a trooper to the end.

She is pre deceased by her father Stuart, her mother ety, her grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is survived by her sisters Cathy Solmonson and Cindy Shane; her brothers-in-law Rick Solmonson and Ric erube nephew Chance Solmonson acey and niece Kayla iller Scot great nieces and nephews ade, Connor, ason, ova, oden and her good friends. celebraton of life will be held in pril and announced in this paper.

You are forever in our hearts. We will always miss you.

Rose Yvonne Adams

September 27, 1938 - January 23, 2026

With profound sadness, we share the passing of our mother, Rose Yvonne Adams.

Mom was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Mom passed peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Peter, as well as her sisters and brother.

Rose is lovingly remembered by her son Garry (Kathy), daughters Sharleen (Brian) and o nne itchell , fve cherished grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

hough our hearts are heavy, we fnd comfort in knowing she is now at peace. Her deep love for family and unwavering support will forever live on in the hearts and memories of all who knew her.

In Loving Memory

Elizabeth “Bety” Jay (née Fry) ebruary , ebruary ,

Some losses don’t just hurt for a while… they hurt for a lifetme. lways missed. lways oved ever orgoten.

ove lways om Shirley

Lyle Kenneth Young

April 23, 1934- January 26, 2026

We are saddened to announce the passing of Lyle Young, at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and community spirit.

Lyle was a devoted father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather who loved his family deeply and unconditonally. amily was always at the centre of his life, and he took great pride in watching it grow. treless volunteer, yle dedicated countless hours to supportng youth sports, including volleyball, football, hockey, and baseball. He was a familiar and welcome presence at arenas, felds, and gyms, and was especially well nown for selling tc ets always with enthusiasm and a friendly smile. Through decades of service, he touched countless lives and helped strengthen the community he cared for so deeply.

Lyle was predeceased by his beloved wife, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 56. Their love remained an enduring part of his life.

He is survived by his children: Sheldon, Randy (Jeni), Kenny, and Jimmy, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will forever cherish his guidance and support.

Celebraton of ife will be held Sunday, ebruary 15, from 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the Columbus Community Centre, 7201 St. Lawrence Avenue. onatons to the eart Stro e oundaton in yle’s memory are appreciated.

•

• Comfortable

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• Assist with loading/unloading as

• Newer model, heavy-spec’d

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g tee r rat n located at 5495 HartwayDr, Prince George, BC, claims a PPSA Lien against Marshall, Dana of Prince George, BC, for arrears of container rent amountng to $2,328.48, plus any a itonal costs of storage that accrue. If not paid in full, the contents of the storage container flle with what we believe to be a sofa and loveseat, and other miscellaneous items, will be sol via online aucton, on bi torage.com on February 14, 2026

• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.

*On Feb. 23, 1885, John Lee went to the gallows in Exeter, England, for allegedly murdering Emma Keyse, a rich older woman who’d employed him. Insisting he was innocent, he was nonetheless convicted and sentenced to hang. However, the lever to release the floor beneath his feet malfunctioned and he didn’t

• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Yours is one of the most potent good-luck signs of the Zodiac. And this week you’ll get some news that reinforces why this is so. A loved one shares in the good tdings.

drop. Baffled authorities sent him back to prison for the next 22 years, though his death sentence was commuted. Upon his release, he emigrated to America, leaving the cause of his reprieve unsolved.

* On Feb. 24, 1961, the first 15 students received their Bachelor of Hamburgerology degree (not a traditional academic one!) from McDonald’s Hamburger University, aka the “Harvard of Fast Food.”

* On Feb. 25, 1837, Vermont blacksmith Thomas Davenport received the first U.S. patent for an

electric motor. He insulated the wires with strips of fabric from his wife’s silk wedding dress (cut by his wife, and with her full approval).

* On Feb. 26, 1968, Allied troops who’d recaptured the imperial capital of Hue from the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive found the first mass graves in Hue. Communist troops who had held the city for 25 days had massacred about 2,800 civilians whom they identified as sympathizers with the government in Saigon, and one authority estimated they might have killed as many as

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A friend from the past returns and makes an unsetling demand. Don’t allow your emotons to take over. Deal with the situaton openly and honestly.

5,700 people in Hue.

* On Feb. 27, 1935, 6-year-old rising Hollywood star Shirley Temple received the first-ever kid-size “juvenile” Oscar, measuring about half the height of a full-size Oscar.

* On Feb. 28, 1982, the J. Paul Getty Museum became the most richly endowed museum in the world when it received a $1.2 billion bequest left to it by the late J. Paul Getty. A good portion of the endowment went to construct the Getty Center, a sixbuilding complex on a hilltop in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Patence and understanding fnally enable you and a loved one to work out your pesky problems once and for all. Good luck!

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) There’s an underlying sense of anger that makes the Divine Bovine see red. Deal with it now before it explodes so that you can avoid more problems from the fallout.

• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Even if you don’t expect to make a career move anytme soon, investgatng an upcoming ofer will certainly pay of. Travel arrangements also need to be made soon.

• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.

• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.

• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.

• On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A workplace problem needs more atenton before it can be setled. Meanwhile, your fnancial picture improves, and someone’s surprise revelaton creates an unusual reacton.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)

Being the sixth sign of the Zodiac makes you more selectve than most folks. But you might need to be a mite more fexible about a long-deferred mater.

The blame game could get out of hand. All accusatons need to be weighed carefully in order to determine what is true and what is potentally harmful innuendo.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)

A new job could be within your grasp. Be patent and allow the decisionmaking process to work itself through. On another note, spend more tme with loved ones.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Sometmes you might feel like you’re not getng your share of life’s good things, but prospects open up this week that could make you feel otherwise.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Expect good news from someone whom you thought had forgoten you. This could lead to a change that you had earlier considered but then set aside.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A romance that seems to be foundering needs tender, loving care if you hope to rescue it. In additon, be prepared to change travel plans as new informaton emerges.

Homes & Living

The Best Flowers and Flower Colours to Enhance Curb Appeal

When selling your home, first impressions matter. Buyers often decide how they feel about a property within seconds of arriving, and your landscaping plays a major role in that reaction. Thoughtfully chosen flowers and colour palettes can instantly boost curb appeal, making your home feel welcoming, well cared for, and move-in ready. Neutral and universally appealing colours are the safest choice when selling. White flowers are especially effective because they convey cleanliness, simplicity, and elegance. White petunias, begonias, alyssum, and hydrangeas reflect light and stand out beautifully against greenery, siding, and brick. They also photograph well, which is an important advantage for online listings.

Soft, cool colours such as lavender, pale blue, and light pink create a

your dream door starts here

calm, inviting atmosphere. Flowers like lavender, salvia, lobelia, and pale pink impatiens add colour without overwhelming the space. These shades help soften the exterior of a home and appeal to a wide range of buyers by feeling fresh and understated rather than bold or trendy.

Warm colours can also be effective when used sparingly. Yellow flowers, such as marigolds, coreopsis, or yellow calibrachoa, add a cheerful pop that draws the eye toward the front entrance. Yellow is associated with happiness and warmth, making it ideal near doorways, walkways, and porch planters. Use reds and oranges carefully, as they are powerful colours that can feel aggressive if overdone. If used, limit them to small accents rather than large beds.

Consistency is key to a polished look. Repeating the same flower types or colour combinations throughout your front yard creates visual harmony and makes the landscaping feel intentional. Mixed, chaotic plantings can appear cluttered and distract from the home itself.

Low-maintenance flowers are another smart choice when selling. Buyers are drawn to landscapes that look attractive but manageable. Annuals such as petunias, geraniums, zinnias, and begonias provide long-lasting colour with minimal upkeep. Perennials like daylilies, coneflowers, and hostas offer structure and reliability without appearing fussy. In the end, the best flowers for curb appeal are those that highlight your home rather than compete with it. Clean colour palettes,

Protectng Your Houseplants from Cool, Dry Winter Air

Winter can be a tough season for houseplants. While they’re safely indoors, they’re often exposed to conditions far from their natural environment. Cool temperatures, dry air, and reduced daylight can stress even the hardiest plants. With a few thoughtful adjustments, however, you can protect your houseplants and help them stay healthy until spring.

One of the biggest challenges in winter is dry indoor air. Heating systems pull moisture from the air, lowering humidity levels well below what most tropical and subtropical plants prefer. Signs of low humidity include brown leaf tips, crispy edges, curling leaves, and increased leaf drop. To counter this, consider grouping plants together. Plants naturally release moisture through their leaves, and when grouped, they create a slightly more humid microclimate.

Using a room humidifier is one of the most effective solutions, especially for moisture-loving plants like ferns, orchids, and calatheas.

Aim for humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent. If a humidifier isn’t an option, placing plants on a pebble tray filled with water can help. Just make sure the pot sits above the waterline so roots don’t stay soggy.

Temperature is another critical factor. Many houseplants dislike sudden temperature changes more than cool conditions themselves. Keep plants away from drafty windows, exterior doors, and heat vents. Cold air leaks can cause chilling injury, while hot air blowing directly onto leaves can dry them out quickly. Most houseplants are happiest in daytime temperatures between 18 and 24°C (65–75°F), with slightly cooler nights. Light levels also drop significantly in winter, especially in northern climates. Even plants that tolerate lower light can struggle during short, overcast days. Move plants closer to windows to maximize available daylight, but avoid letting leaves touch cold glass. South- or west-facing windows generally

provide the strongest winter light. If natural light is limited, a simple grow light used for a few hours each day can make a noticeable difference.

Watering habits should change with the season. Because plant growth slows in winter, most houseplants need less water. Overwatering is a common mistake and can lead to root rot. Always check the soil before watering, allowing the top few centimeters to dry out for most plants. Use room-temperature water to avoid shocking the roots, and empty saucers promptly so plants aren’t sitting in excess moisture. Finally, resist the urge to fertilize heavily during winter. Since plants are not actively growing, they don’t need extra nutrients and can actually be harmed by too much fertilizer. Pause feeding until daylight increases in late winter or early spring.

By managing humidity, temperature, light, and watering, you can protect your houseplants

from the harsh effects of cool, dry winter air. These small, consistent adjustments will help your plants not only survive the winter, but emerge healthy and ready to grow when warmer days return.

Property & Strata Management Aspire Realty

851 Harper St. Unit B

$1425 p/m 2 Bed 1

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301-2478 Upland

$1350, 2 Beds 1 Bath, Coin Laundry in building of street parking. Top Floor unit

appliances- fridge, stove, dishwasher + over-range microwave) storageyes parking, 1 assigned spot, pet friendly, small pets considered with deposit. utlites- bc hydro required

1344 Aleza Cres Unit A

$2,000.00 per month BED- 3

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7009 Irene Rd B

Price $1,300 per month (photo Atached)Available Feb 1st 2026

BEDS- 1 BATH- 1 YARD, Fridge, stove, dishwasher LAUNDRY in suite PARKING Of Street PETSNegotable with deposit UTILITIESIncluded EXTRA DETAILS- Ground Level Suite, Close to Bus stops, Outside storage. No smoking Tenant insurance is required.

2680 Parent Rd

$2,600.00 per month

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BED- 4 BATH- 3, Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher LAUNDRY, UTILITIESNot Included, NO PETS- Garage, Carport and Driveway **SHED IN BACK YARD IF FOR LANDLORD USE ONLY** NO SMOKING Tenant insurance is required.

7029 Irene Road Unit A

$1300 per month

Available Now! Ground Level Suite BEDS-1 BATHS-1 Fridge, Stove, Microwave, Dishwasher, A/C LAUNDRY ROOM, PARKING Shared UTILITIES-Included PET FRIENDLY-Yes small pets considered with deposit. No smoking Tenant insurance required

$2,150.00/Month $1940.00/Month $2,250.00/Month $2,150.00/Month $2,260.00/Month $2,350.00/Month $2,100.00/Month

849 Harper Street Unit B $1200 per month Available March 1, 2026 * 0 BEDS, 1 BATHS, Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher LAUNDRY ROOM, Shared, Detached Garage UTILITIES- Included. BC Hydro required for garage. PET FRIENDLYYes small pets considered with deposit. NO SMOKING Tenant insurance is required.

7728 St Mathew Pl. unit B Price-$1,500 per month Available Feb 1st . BED- 2 BATH- Fridges, Stoves, Fireplace YARD (Shared) LAUNDRY- In suite UTILITIESIncluded PETS- 1 small negotable with deposit. PARKING- Of Street NO SMOKING Tenant insurance is required.

1005 Jarvis St

$2,500.00 per month Available Now, (photo atached)

BED- 4 BATH- 2.5, Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher large rec room in basement YARD, LAUNDRY- Yes UTILITIES- Not Included NO PETS ,Driveway, NO SMOKING Tenant insurance is required.