Building Bridges at the Pride Parade

Prince George will soon be seeing a lot of colour, support, and love in its streets; because this weekend is pride weekend. The PG Pride society has been planning all year for their annual pride parade, and it's expected to be bigger than ever. This year marks it as its 19th annual,and  as PG pride president, Stacey Hewlett says, they have faced a lot of challenges over the years, but the support they have had from the community has been enormous. This year the parade is proud to be called the biggest parade in PG, and the weekend includes many other great activities. To start off the festivities, there will  be a 19 + drag show on july 8th at the Coast Inn of the North. The next day, on the Saturday, is when the festival and parade happens. It all starts at 10am with the parade at 11am.  The festival includes   food and item vendors, bouncy castles, a performance by the actors of Judy Russell's Mary Poppins,  a comedian, and more! The festival will be a great event for everyone and anyone. It will go until 4pm, but the entertainment, for those over 19, doesn't stop there. At 8pm you can head over to the Civic Center for the pride dance. It lasts all night, so prepare to party! If you are still awake enough for breakfast the next day, head down to the final event of the weekend, the Phoenix Breakfast,  happening at 11am in the Coast Inn of the North. It is the last event of the weekend but certainly not the least (A cliche , but in this case definitely true) . It is to honour the recipient of the Phoenix award, one who truly embodies the idea of ‘rising from the ashes’. The beautiful award was made by the  talented local artist Wendy Young.

President of PG Pride, Stacey Hewlett, says she is overwhelmed by the support the group has received around the entire event. She states that over the years her favourite part has always been the parade. She says that it is just amazing to see the way the community gets together and helps each other. She was born and raised in PG and says that not just the parade, but the whole city has grown. This year more than ever there has been an tremendous outreach from all parts of PG. City council is putting a float in the parade, Unions have been giving support, not  to  mention the police and ambulances that are going to help supervise the proceedings. It will be a truly spectacular weekend, and I am sure many will leave it feeling touched by the outpouring of love and support PG is able to offer. The theme of the weekend is building bridges and that will be very easy witness that first hand throughout the whole weekend. To get tickets for any of these events, excluding the festival which is free, head over to https://pgpride.tickit.ca/ , and for more info check out Pg Pride's Facebook page https://goo.gl/9598fS or their website http://prideprincegeorge.wildapricot.org/

-Laura Smith

Get to know Prince George

You may know that Prince George is hailed as BC's Northern capital or that a big part of its success came from the fact that its in the intersection of the Fraser and Nechako. However, I doubt that many know that the original owners of the building JJ Springers used to be in ,got the job of being the towns undertakers after the Spanish flu hit and used their Ford Model T as an ambulance to deal with the sick. Not exactly the cute cozy building we now know... PG is the town we live in and for a majority of us, grew up in, yet somehow, a lot of it's citizens don't know much about its history,especially when it comes to our downtown. This is what the Prince George Public Library strives to change with its Downtown Walking Tours. Every summer since 2006 the Bob Harkins branch of the Library has been hosting the absolutely free walking tours. They happen every Tuesday and Thursday, and each year they are hosted by someone else. This year, recent high school graduate Paige Malmgren is leading the walks, and she thinks its an awesome way for PG citizens to get to know their town a little bit more. She state that you "get to learn a bunch of PG's history and see how much its changed over the years". The walk starts off at Bob Harkins branch and leads you around different historic sites in the downtown area. Malmgrens favourite spot is the building that held the original Post office building, since its the same building that stood there in 1939. Many of the historic buildings in PG have been destroyed through the numerous devastating fires downtown has faced over the years, so buildings such as that one are even more interesting.  The walk also takes you to other sites such as the courthouse, the building where the Strand theatre used to stand,and WD west studios; along with newer sites like Milan Basic's unique and colourful murals. If this interests you head over to the Library on a Tuesday or Thursday at 11am. The tours are an hour long, so get ready to learn ALOT about your city.

For more info on the tours or anything else library related head over to www.pgpl.ca

-Laura Smith

BC First Nations takes species-at-risk recovery into new territory

It took 2 years of preparation but the Upper Nicola Band, the Burrowing Owl conservation society, local species-at-risk biologists, and the federal interdepartmental Recovery Fund are excited to implement the reintroduction of Burrowing Owls back into Nicola territory! Owls are deeply woven into the culture of the Upper Nicola and Interior Salish peoples. They are considered the guardian spirits for hunters and warriors and are spirit carriers and guides to other worlds

Chief Harvey McLeod, from Upper Nicola had some inspiring words on the subject, stating:

 "the culture that has always given us strength and supported us is based on coexistence with the land that has always sustained us. We must give it support in turn. It means we have the responsibility to be stewards of the world around us, and to reclaim, where we can what we have lost, and to rebuild what we are losing."

In preparation for the release of the first set of owls, upper Nicola field techs and cultural advisors helped to survey the band's eight reserves and identify suitable habitat. Community members helped with the construction of nestboxes and creating artificial burrows. These burrows will be home to the first three breeding pairs of Owls, which were hatched and raised by volunteers of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

The goal of both the Upper Nicola Band and the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society is to reserve the continuing decline of the Burrowing owl populations within Canada. This can be accomplished from the efforts this project aims to establish by maintaining a self-perpetual, well-distributed population of owls in British Colombia. Upper Nicola Band species at risk program is also committed to building capacity, increase knowledge of culturally and ecologically important wildlife and encourage community-based, hands on conservation.

This is exciting news as this will be the first ever release of Burrowing Owls on land that is controlled by First Nations. We look forward to hearing how these animals do after their release. To learn more about the topic you can check out the Upper Nicola website or the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC.

Upper Nicola: www.uppernicola.com Burrowing Owl Conservation Society: www.burrowingowlbc.org

The 20th Annual Cinema CNC Film Festival – March 18-20, 2016

Cinema CNC is pleased to be presenting the 20th Annual Cinema CNC Film Festival, March 18th to 20th, 2016 at the Prince George Playhouse.

Tickets are available as of February 29th, at Books and Company, The CNC Bookstore, and The UNBC Bookstore. The films are all confirmed; the dates and times are subject to change... they hope to have a guest for the festival and would like to highlight his/her film, so if you can be flexible, you're at an advantage. Regardless the festival brings in a lot of cinematic art not available to us here  for years at a a time.

The list of films and times [currently] posted here.

Featured this year is the TIFF selection, "Al Purdy was Here"

An icon of Canadian letters, Al Purdy was equal parts rock star, raconteur, and rabble-rouser: in other words, all poet. Coming to prominence in the 1960s alongside a crop of other extraordinary talents, Purdy scorned the tired tales of rural life that had dominated Canadian literature and set out to focus on contemporary Canadian experience. What emerges is a far more complex portrait of Purdy than was suggested by his public persona as the boisterous lover of booze, brawls, and verse, immortalized in his best-known poems.

Gord Downy takes on a version of "At The Quinte Hotel"

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPKeczB3wrg[/embed]

How to Spur Action in the Face of Climate Change

Michelle Connolly an MA of UNBC's Environmental Sciences Dept., Ken Edzerza of the Etzenlee Tahltan Family Clan Association, and Todd Whitcombe of UNBC's Chemistry Dept. all discuss the topic, "How to Spur Action in the Face of Climate Change"  

[embed]https://www.mixcloud.com/cfurvolunteer/cfur-climate-panel-how-to-spur-action-in-the-face-of-climate-change-20160219/[/embed]

 

VICE shows Blocktreat some love

16 Feb 2016 -- Williams Lake-native Brandon Hoffman, better known as Blocktreat, was shown some love by VICE's Noisey Canada Staff today! (Happy belated Valentine's Day?)

The article, entitled "Get Lost In Blocktreat's Catchy New Single 'Hinterland Steez,'" is accompanied by the release of a single from his soon-to-come album, Exciting New Ventures In Fucking Up.  In addition to the track, Noisey featured a photo of Brandon shot by singer-songwriter Sam Tudor of Big Lake, BC. Lots of love for the Cariboo!

Indie Shuffle was first to offer a taste of the new album with the single  "Follow Your Stupid Heart." These two tracks, in addition to Blocktreat's other albums, are perfect for riding the city bus or slothing around the library until 11pm or lying on your living room floor. 

If you're keen to hear more music by Williams Lake/Big Lake locals, I'll leave my Audiomap episode here. It features Blocktreat, Sam Tudor, and many others. You can listen if you'd like.

Post by Dara Campbell

https://www.mixcloud.com/daracampb/episode-five-williams-lake/

New: Site C Dam Documentary - Peace Out

Everybody loves the knowledge network. Why?

Because we gain knowledge!

In this case, let's learn a little more about BC's food security, energy use, exportation, and our own energy habits. Do we want a dam on the Peace? Do you want a dam on the Peace? Whether the answers are yes or no, this film can fill in gaps that you may never knew existed...

Peace Out!

Environmental and Social Justice Work / Riotous Fun

PG PIRG is a student-funded, non-partisan group that brings together UNBC's students, staff and faculty and PG's community groups to organize around issues of public interest i.e. the environment and social justice. Want to get involved in activism, skill-sharing, learning, or general event planning over the December break?

PG PIWant to learn skills, hear about certain issues? Have suggestions for events to plan? We are listening! respond to this email or email pgpirg@unbc.ca stop into the office 6-342 NUSC or get us through social media. @pgpirg 

Power Up Prince George !!!

Are you a Gamer and/or Good Samaritan? Power Up Prince George is an annual charity gaming event organized, hosted, and sponsored by local cool cats Pat Howard (Dyne Digital), Kelsy Polnik (Game Quest), Shawn Caldera (Volcanic Gaming), and Adam Haramisiuk. This year's charity of choice is the Child Development Centre of PG.

Players of all ages and gaming abilities are welcome! Power Up Prince George will be a day of family-friendly fun and competition. Event activities include free-play arcade and pinball machines, free-play console games, cosplay, competitive tournament gaming,  a silent auction, and door prizes.

Where? The Prince George Playhouse When? THIS Saturday, December 5, 10am-10pm Admission? Ticketed as well as donation-based Tickets? Available at Game Quest (4158 Cowart Rd) and at the door

See Power Up Prince George's webpage for more info. Game on!