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Local politicians today are mourning the sudden loss of former Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who died in his Ottawa home earlier today. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, and I extend my sincere condolences to his wife, Christine Elliott, and their three children, John, Galen, and Quinn,” said Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer. “When I made my first speech in the House of Commons, Jim Flaherty told me I had ‘big boots to...

Now, they’re getting personal. Before, all the Canada Winter Games really wanted from potential volunteers was a name and an e-mail address. Now they want more. “By last weekend,” community relations manager Alyson Gourlay-Cramer says, “we had more than 2,800 volunteers entered into our system. All of them should have received an e-mail on the weekend telling them how to proceed. “We’ve already had a good number of them complete the next step in the process.” I was one of the people who got...

A former Prince George Barracuda will be swimming at an international event this summer. Danica Ludlow, 17, who now swims with the High Performance Centre in Victoria, was selected to the Canadian team for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, set for Kihei, Hawaii in August. Ludlow secured her spot with her results at the Canadian Trials meet in Victoria on the weekend. She finished 12th in the 200 and 400 freestyles, setting new personal bests in each, as well as 10th in the 800...

Dance takes discipline and dollars. To reach the next level of excellence, dancers can showcase their talent and technique on a local stage during recitals, shows and dance festivals. However when they get the chance to compete at the B.C. Provincials, to be held in Pentiction from June 3 to 7, it’s like reaching out to grab the brass ring. It is a solid achievement. Dancers from all over the province perform a wide variety of dance disciplines at the Provincials and cash prizes and...

Editor: It was with great sadness that I read of yet another public tradition disappearing. I speak of the annual Elk’s May Day parade being cancelled. I also feel kind of angry, because it demonstrates all too clearly that the very fabric of our society is quickly falling apart. But, before you get to blaming politicians as I often do, it is time to take an honest look at the real cause, and why. The reason for the breakdown of society is quite intentional. Its purpose is to afford better...

Editor: How our B.C. government has introduced Bill 24 resembles how Russia’s Vladimir Putin just redrew the Russia/ Ukraine borders. No democracy here either. Our government promised consultation when they announced a core review of the ALR and the ALC, but it did not happen. On the day Bill 24 was announced, Bill Bennett acknowledged that there ‘maybe’ was not adequate consultation, and he would take the blame for that. Polls have consistently shown that people with knowledge of the ALR...

Editor: I firmly support those families in the Fraser Valley and elsewhere who refuse to allow their offspring to be jabbed with needles in the name of ‘vaccination.’ We have a God-given right to be free of so-called ‘medical’ interference in our lives and the lives of our children. Furthermore, we should be free of all unsolicited interventions in a silly chase for perfect health. For instance, there is no reason why we should be forced to ingest fluoride with our drinking water just...

The face of poverty is changing and the number of mouths to feed is growing. The Free Press will be examining this topic in the coming weeks from the perspective of the users, providers and observers. Is our present system of providing food for our most vulnerable population in Prince George working? If not, what can we do to improve it?   “When a child is hungry, it’s hard to learn.” With that premise, editors at Canadian Living magazine in 1992 spearheaded a movement to “help out...

Paul Strickland Special to the Free Press The unreasonably quickly passed Bill 4 (Park Amendment Act, 2014) adds to a section of the Park Act on research a provision for feasibility studies toward pipeline and industrial projects within provincial park boundaries. The added section says in part “’feasibility study’ means a study of the feasibility, including, without limitation, the feasibility of the location, design, construction, use, maintenance, improvement or deactivation of one of...