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When you reach rock bottom you still have farther to fall. Just ask Dr. Eric Weissman. What once was his worst nightmare turned into his greatest asset, he said. The humbling experience of being a destitute, drug addict who eventually became homeless gave him the knowledge, courage and determination needed to help others find a better path in life. He’s interviewed and filmed dozens of people for documentaries about people’s struggles on the streets. Today the 54-year-old professor of...

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...

Lesson learned. Read your own newspaper online before you leave the office. I could have been saved myself a lot of confusion, anxiety, angst and profuse sweating had I done that. First, just the facts. I was driving down 15th Avenue Wednesday morning, as usual driving carefully and minding my own business – this is my story so I can tell it the way I want to – on my way to a photo assignment at the PG Railway and Forestry Museum. As an astute reporter, I began to feel very uneasy. I...

Should the idea of Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond be followed, in future years we could be celebrating Holi (Festival of Colours) in a much bigger way, by singing and dancing in the streets of downtown. Bond was a guest at the Happy Holi celebrations hosted by the Prince George Hindu Society Saturday at the Day’s Inn. She told guests that in her research of the festival, she found out that Holi is about putting negative things behind you, forgiving others and moving...

There are many stories that come to the Free Press which show triumph over adversity, and, as reporters, we never fail to be inspired by them and we hope readers will be as well. Gladys McKay has lived in Prince George since 1952 when sidewalks downtown were still made of wooden planks, and when the hospital was located in the old army barracks. She remembers harsh winters back then with temperatures that dipped to 45 degrees below and with “snow so high that you couldn’t see out our...