Mr. P.G. In for Some R and R
Prince George, B.C.- For Mr. P.G., the term "R&R" doesn’t mean rest and recreation, think of it more as "repair and relocation."
Starting tomorrow, the Prince George icon will be dismantled then sent off to the repair shop where he will be powder coated and painted before being reassembled on the opposite corner, alongside the Prince George Playhouse.
( photo at right of Mr. P.G. courtesy City of Prince George)
Tourism Prince George CEO Aiden Kelly says Mr. P.G. needs a bit of break and a fresher look "He’s been standing there for 30 odd years now so he’ll get a little bit of vacation time and a rest before he goes back up across the road. No major changes, he’ll look the same, it’s just a refurbishment." The actual plan to make the move was approved in April of this year when City Council approved the Tourism Prince George request.
Mr. P.G. will be off to the beauty/repair shop for about 4 weeks, enough time to develop a new spot for him on the west side of highway 16, and to ensure the proper foundation and supports are in place "You don’t want the big guy doing a face plant in the flower beds if there’s a windstorm" says Kelly.
The cost of the relocation has not been pinned down but Kelly says Prince George taxpayers will not be picking up the tab "We had a donation from a private donor, and we have a surplus from some other tourism dollars, so this won’t be coming out of the pockets of the Prince George taxpayers." He says the final cost of the move will be known once those involved with dismantling Mr. P.G. get up close and personal with him so they can get a better look at how easy or difficult this dismantling job will be.
The site next to the Prince George Playhouse was selected for its high traffic volumes and visibility. "Our options were to move him across the highway, or to some park, but that would make it more difficult for tourists to find him. You wouldn’t believe how many people want to have their picture taken with him, and this new site will allow that, although making a left turn out of the area isn’t ideal, it is the best site for Mr. P.G.
Mr. P.G was first introduced in 1960 as a symbol of the importance of the forest industry to Prince George. That year, the bowing, speaking version of Mr. P.G. was on a parade float that was part of the Prince George May Day parade. The following year he was entered in the Kelowna Regatta and the Vancouver PNE Parade and also traveled to Smithers. Two years later, he entered the 1963 Grey Cup parade.
Mr. PG is 8.138 meters high, his head is 1.5 metres in diameter.
Expect the Prince George icon to be back in place before the end of October.
Comments
Wouldn’t the ‘best site” be by the Welcome to Prince George Sign kitty corner to the current location?
Prepare a wide shoulder or rest stop on both sides of the corner, or even a small parking lot, and voila, instant context.
Having it in front of the PG playhouse sort of makes it associated with that facility rather than being associated with Prince George overall.
cheese
R&R is notn rest and recreation its Rest and Recuoperrationa. A term used by the military when going on leave from the sharp end (hats the front line of battle to you civilians).
Cheers
Take it down & leave it down
Rest and Relaxation actually. Not everything originates with the military.
The Citys plan in the long term (5 Years) is to tear down the Playhouse Theatre, and sell the property to developers. The money from the sale is going to go towards the Peforming Arts Centre, that nobody wants.
Soooooooo. Why would you locate it in an area that could be commercialized in a few years???? Unless its closer to the North end of the block, which would put it in front of the roller rink. Hmmmmmm.
Would have been worse if John Major had lit up the stick-man, complete with a big neon sign flashing …CASINO…CASINO…
Treasure Cove…nicest slots in town.
sure put it out on 16 west – everyone knows the city does not exist to anyone that is not heading to the center of the universe, westgate (eyeroll)
What about the time capsule that was put inside in the early 80’s? I have pictures of it being inserted.
I agree with Loki. Kitty corner amongst the flowers would have been nice, and not any where near the eye sore roller dome.
I had to laugh at this “The site next to the Prince George Playhouse was selected for its high traffic volumes and visibility. “Our options were to move him across the highway, or to some park, but that would make it more difficult for tourists to find him”
Why not locate him to the tourest centre on 1st, is that not a prime high visibilty easy to find spot for tourests. Plus the scenery down there is awesome. Just think of the backdrop when taking pictures.
I have been travelling through PG since about 1970. I still do, usually 3 or 4 times a year. I like Mr PG, and I’m glad that he’s being refurbished. All things don’t have to be new, fashionable and cool. Retro and history is good too.
Most people don’t know an interesting, anatomically correct fact about Mr. PG.
When he was first erected, he had complete male genitalia – a culvert from a forest service road in the Bowron River area and some Japanese fishing net floats completed the look.
In 1981 a petition was launched under the slogan ‘re-package the package’ and the entirety of the offending accoutrements were relocated to the Prince George Railway Museum.
They reside there still, neglected and unpolished.
Mr PG is the icon for these parts. Glad to see he’s been taken care of.
Rocky gets the post of the year award! Lol!
Actually Mr. PG is the cultural icon of Prince George. I can’t think of a more appropriate icon than a character whose head started life as a septic tank.
Well…. PG’s first city hall was originally a brothel!
Ididnt say that every thing originated with th military. Just R and R.
Cheers
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