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For Chantal Pazdzierski-Litke, this week has been a little crazy. “We’ve got the ice show coming up, so I’m working on my part in that,” says Pazdzierski-Litke of To the Tune of Sport, which takes to the ice tonight (Friday) at 6 p.m. at the Coliseum. “I’m also coaching some of the junior skaters in the show, and we’ve got a test day on Saturday.” Pazdzierski-Litke can’t count how many years she’s been skating, and added coaching to her list about three years ago. “It was a one-day...

By the time the Prince George Spruce Kings hold their Prospects Camp on April 10, there may be a new head coach watching. Dave Dupas resigned from the position on March 20 after four and a half years, and general manager Mike Hawes says there was immediate interest. “The world has gotten smaller because of technology,” Hawes said, “and the hockey world is even smaller. Within a couple of hours of the announcement, I was getting calls and texts from people interested in the position.” Dupas...

We may be moving towards an increasingly paperless society in which – at this time of year – e-filing tax returns is commonplace. However, on Wednesday at the Salvation Army location, Paul Raines is happy to be amid piles of paper, helping seniors and others with low earnings – and lots of questions – fill out their income tax returns. Raines is one of 16,000 volunteers in Canada who annually support the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). “When I retired from teaching 10 years...

Artist Jeannette Spencer cringes as she tells her tale of mystery and intrigue. “I know it sounds unbelievable but it happened. It’s such a strange twist of fate.” Spencer is referring to the made-for-Hollywood background story of how her original stained glass piece “Everest Reborn” came to be recreated and installed at the Rebirth group exhibition at the Rustad Galleria. In January, Spencer answered a call for artists put out by Two Rivers Gallery. The theme of the exhibit was Earthly...

Violinist Gabrielle Jacob leaves June 21 to join the National Youth Orchestra Canada for a summer training session and concert tour. This is the Duchess Park Grade 12 student’s second time (the first was in 2014) being chosen to become part of a 100-strong professional training orchestra for emerging artists. “I’m very proud to be a part of this,” said Jacob. “Being accepted into the NYOC means you can learn so much more and see so much more of the music world. I learned a lot from my...

This week marks a bit of a milestone for me. Last night I sang my swansong at the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. After four years on the board of directors, three-and-a-half of those on the executive committee, I am no longer on the board. It was by choice, however I did have to deliver a financial report last night, so after that my decision to not run again might have been timed perfect. As former Chilcotin author, columnist, newspaperman, and MP Paul St. Pierre used to say about his...

It is truly a shame that the inquest into the deaths of Glenn Roche and Alan Little has gone so far off the rails. As Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe pointed out Wednesday, inquests are not trials. They are supposed to be adversarial. They are about the “public need for ascertaining the facts.” She also pointed out that participants testifying at an inquest are protected. In other words, what they say at an inquest cannot be used against them somewhere else. It’s a key part of the process....

  It is sad when our collective intelligence fails us. The recent labour action at the university is another example of utilizing brute force to try to resolve a dispute. Strikes and lockout still have a place and can be useful tools in bargaining in industry. It is questionable if they are the correct tools to use as we endeavour to resolve a dispute where significant collateral damage to innocent parties is the result. In the fields such as education or health care and other fields,...

This photo by the Prince George Free Press’ Allan Wishart has won the Canadian Community Newspaper Association’s best news feature photo for newspapers with a circulation of more than 12,500.   The photo was shot in October as members of the Duchess Park Condors (in black) and Prince George Polars football teams took part in a moment of silence before the annual P.G. Bowl at Masich Place Stadium. The teams were honouring the memory of Tanya Cruse, who died from cancer a...

There are some new faces joining the Prince George Chamber of Commerce Board. At last night’s annual general meeting, members elected the new board of directors for 2015-16. Forty-six business members participated in the voting. Cindi Pohl, account manager at Waste Management Inc., was acclaimed as president, after serving as vice-president for the past two years. “This is a significant year for our city as we continue to celebrate Prince George’s 100th anniversary and UNBC’s...