This is the final instalment in the series “Revitalization Seeds”, which looked at the latest plan to revitalize downtown Prince George.  

 Editor’s Note:

 

The plan to redevelop the downtown of Prince George has touched many people in the community. It has been 4 and a half years since the push to revitalize the core was started, and the latest chapter involves the Northern Development Initiatives Trust filing Foreclosure proceedings against Commonwealth Campuses and it’s Directors for the loan from NDI Trust. That scenario has not yet reached a conclusion, but one might wonder what has become of those who have been mentioned in this series.

Where are they now?

Dan McLaren: President of Commonwealth Health, Campus and Realty has talked to the City of Trail about Downtown Re-development. His company, Commonwealth Campuses Inc, is facing foreclosure on a number of lots in the 400 Block of George St. NDI Trust spokespeople say they are negotiating to come to a resolution sooner than later.

Janine North; Continues in her capacity as CEO of Northern Development Trust. She supported Shari Green’s Mayoral campaign with a cash donation and a public expression of support. Janine North’s husband now works at the City of Prince George.

Heather Oland; She was noted as the Vice Chairman of the Downtown Implementation team. She left L&M Engineering and has now become CEO of Initiatives Prince George. She resigned her position as Director of Commonwealth Campuses Inc, but is listed as a respondent in the foreclosure action.

Tim McEwan ; Former head of Initiatives Prince George left IPG in large measure because he refused to support up to 40 years of tax holidays for new business in the downtown. He now is a Deputy Minister in the Provincial government in charge of all large projects in northern BC.

Kevin Falcon – Former Minister of Finance and failed candidate in seeking to replace Gordon Campbell as Premier and head of the Liberals in BC. Has announced he will not seek re election.

Bruce Sutherland ; Retired from his position as Chair of the NDI Trust and CNC. Also noted as a representative on the New Downtown Implementation team, Sutherland has returned to his private business.

Hugh Nicholson ; Publisher of the Prince George Citizen who said in April of 2010 “over the past year key individuals in the private sector did what business people do better than any government department devised by man , they took a chance. Representatives of all three groups aided by the Citizen managed to come together over these past many months and the results have been exhilarating in the downtown, Janine North, Cameron Stolz and Shari Green all deserve Kudos for their support”. Nicholson left his post as President of the DBIA, and later left the Citizen to move onto a management position with Glacier Media on Vancouver Island.

Shari Green; Went onto become the Mayor of Prince George spending the most money per capita ever in the city in her campaign . She has not re-introduced the idea of tax breaks in the core of up to 40 years. As a Councillor, she was noted as part of the Downtown Implementation team. Although praised by the Publisher of the Prince George Citizen for her support ,  the details of her support have not been made public.

Cameron Stolz; Supported the 40 year tax abatement for downtown. As noted in the Hugh Nicholson   note, Stolz was one who was deserving of “ kudos” for his “support” although the nature of the support has not been specified. He was re-elected in 2011 as a City Councillor and was appointed by Mayor Shari Green to the Finance and Audit Committee   and is Chair of that Committee.

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