Getaway BC » Prince George

A Brief History

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

The origins of Prince George can be traced to the fur trading post of Fort George, established in 1807 by Simon Fraser. The post was centered in the centuries-old homeland of the Lheidli T’Enneh First Nation. Agricultural settlement around Fort George began about 1906 when it was realized that the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (later CN Rail) would pass near the fur post. The railway arrived in 1914 and construction of the railway townsite commenced. The City of Prince George was incorporated on March 6, 1915.

Bev Christensen. Railways, Rivers, and Timbers

Canada: Windsor Publications, Ltd. History Books Division, 1989.;

A Regional Centre

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Growth was slow until the 1950’s when many people arrived from the prairies and Europe to work in the sawmills. The 1960’s and 70’s were years of remarkable growth associated with modernization of the sawmill industry and construction of three pulp mills. By 1997, the population was over 75,000.

The City’s economy is based on the forest industry with fourteen sawmills, two single pulp mills and a twinned pulp mill, one of the largest in the world. Wood products manufacturing, a refinery, a brewery, chemical plants and diesel locomotive repair shops contribute to the industrial base.

The City’s role as a regional centre is highlighted by a large, modern library and hospital, a regional college, the main campus of the University of Northern British Columbia, two museums, an art gallery, amateur theatre groups and a symphony orchestra.

More information on the Fraser-Fort George Regional District is available on their website: http://www.rdffg.bc.ca;

Who is this tall stranger?

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

The current Mr. PG, short for Mr. Prince George, was built in 1983. The statue is 8.138 metres tall and is constructed of fiberglass and sheet metal painted to look like wood. Mr. PG is located at the junction of highways 97 and 16 in front of the tourist information centre.

In 1960, the first Mr. PG was constructed as a symbol of the importance of the forest industry to Prince George. It was originally 40′ tall and made of spruce wood. The mascot was built to ride on a float in the Pacific National Exhibition parade in Vancouver, and was the prizewinner for best float. On the parade float, Mr. PG was hinged so it could bend down when the float encountered high wires. It could also speak. In between appearances, Mr. PG was kept on display at The Chamber of Commerce building and was later moved to the Tourist Information Centre.

In 1983, Mr. PG began to deteriorate and rot, and in the summer of 1983, a reconstructed Mr. PG was erected. The new Mr. PG had a yellow hardhat and a time capsule filled with memorabilia representing Prince George in 1983 in its chest.;

WHERE WE ARE!

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Prince George is situated where the Nechako River joins the Fraser River close to the center of British Columbia. Surrounding the City are beautiful lakes and rolling hills of the Nechako Plateau. The north-south Highway 97 and the east-west Highway 16 intersect at Prince George. The City is also the junction of the British Columbia and Canadian National Railways. For more information visit www.city.pg.bc.ca;

General Inquiries

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Chamber of Commerce, 890 Vancouver St.. ……. 250-562-2454

City of Prince George, 1100 Patricia Blvd. ………. 250-561-7600

Tourism Prince George, 1300 1st Ave. ……………. 250-562-3700

Northern BC Film Commission ………………………. 250-564-0282

Initiatives Prince George, 201-1300 1st Ave.. ….. 250-564-0282

Government Agents Office ……………………………. 250-565-4488

Hello BC (Tourism BC) ………………………………… 1-800-435-5622

Northern BC Tourism Association ………………….. 250-561-0432;

Useful Websites for Prince George

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

www.princegeorge.com

www.tourismpg.com

www.pgevents.com

directory.getawaybc.com

www.afterhours.org

www.pgso.com

www.theatrenorthwest.com

www.pgtw.bc.ca

www.netbistro.com

www.ticketmaster.ca

www.city.pg.bc.ca

www.pgairport.ca;

Mayor Kinsley and City Council’s Priorities

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

It is the City’s practice for Council to meet as a team and review the status of the community’s needs. This provides the opportunity to set goals for the City’s future.

Council has developed priorities to support its commitment to have our Community continue acting as “BC’s Northern Capital”. Council also reaffirmed that the City’s Mission is:

To continually improve the quality of life;

To offer full opportunities for housing, education, recreation,and the cultural life of residents; and

To continue to create the climate and opportunities for employment, investment and reward.

In achieving its Mission, Council endorsed a set of Core Values to guide members of Council, as well as City employees, in their conduct as public servants:

- Honesty and Integrity

- Courageous Leadership

- Innovation

- Commitment

- Energy and Enthusiasm

- Respect

- Professionalism

- Competence and Ability;

Prince George Free Press 1773 South lyon street, prince george, v2n 1t3 PHONE: 250-564-0005 PAX: 250-562-0025

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

This guide is solely funded by our advertisers. It is possible, through the participation of these fine organizations, to provide this

comprehensive guide to you FREE OF CHARGE. To ensure our continued success, please support our advertisers. Thank you! Dennis Chapman, Publisher. ;

Aggressive driving is unacceptable!

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

A survey published in 2005 reveals that 6.7% of respondents admitted to driving with an alcohol level that was higher than the legal limit during the previous year. Yet, Canada is very strict compared to other countries. Canadian law stipulates a maximum penalty of five years for driving with a 0.09 alcohol level, whereas the longest maximum penalty in another country is two years.

Another behaviour that increases road fatalities is disregarding the use of seat belts. The inside of a vehicle has what’s called the engineered life space, which is specially conceived to handle collisions and protect vehicle occupants. The seat belt will hold you inside that engineered life space. Seat belts also offer the best protection against ejection.

The Canadian Safety Council wants to make people realize the dangers of aggressive driving. The fifth annual Study on Aggressive Driving demonstrates that 72 percent of respondents feel that aggressive driving is increasingly widespread on our roads. Here are a few tricks to avoid unpleasant situations:

- Find other routes and itineraries to avoid busy roads.

- If you travel with young children, stop often and bring toys and books.

- Be an example for your young passengers. Children are very observant. Teach them the importance of courtesy and preventive driving.

- Do not feel threatened. Be polite, even when the other driver is not. Take a deep breath and yield the way.;

EMERGENCY # 911

GetawayBC.com — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Ambulance …………………………….. 250-562-7241

Fire …………………………………………. 250-561-7664

Police ………………………………………. 250-561-3300

Poison Control Centre …………….. 1-800-567-8911

Dental Emergency ………………….. 250-563-2470

Forest Fires ……………………………. 1-800-663-5555

Crime Stoppers ………………………. 1-800-222-8477

Crisis Centre …………………………… 250-563-1214

Poison Control Centre …………….. 1-800-567-8911

Air or Marine Emergency …………. 1-800-567-5111

……………………………………… Cellular #311;