The Gritty Old Mill Town People Respond
I want to take exception to the recent comments that suggest Prince George is a "gritty old mill town" and that the Nechako Boat Launch received a bunch of City money when a group undertook to replace the existing boat launch. That simply isn't true.
Let me take you back to the first boat launch built at the site of the new one.
It was back in the early eighties when we, and I am referring not only to myself, but the 100 odd boaters who discovered that we had no boat launch that was capable of operating most months of the year.
After a few incidents took place in which boaters, tubers , rafts and others nearly lost their lives , the then existing Jet Boat club headed by Gordon Ford, (who was operating Ali Craft Boats at the time) set about to build a proper launch.
We, that is everyone from the club, received support from city hall, no money, but lot's of support . The launch was built with the Jet Boat Club's efforts along with a few other people such as Klien and Son who pushed allot of material around to create the launch.
A City engineer, seeing what we were trying to accomplish, came along and said they were removing pavement from downtown and they had to get rid of it , and would we like it spread on the launch. So how that now develops into a major expenditure by the city , I do not know. The issue then, as it stands today, is what is a life worth? We had many incidents over the years on the Nechako and the Fraser, sadly, some ended tragically.
Fast forward to 2006 and the Nechako River Boat Association stepped up to the plate by raising nearly $160 thousand in cash, volunteer labour and donations what was eventually to become a major launch and the only reliable one in the city .
The total project was a little over $300,000 and if someone wants to make a comparison to the Performing Arts Centre, then the Performing Arts Society should raise just over 50% or $21 million 250 thousand before they come asking for some City money. Here is how the funding was accounted for by the Nechako River Boat Association:
The project cost $313,316:
- tourism grant of $80 thousand from the City
- NDI Grant of $70 thousand
- Local Business donations of $80,951
- Duke Energy donation $3,000
- Volunteer hours valued at $74,370
There was a little bit of money left over in the form of a GST rebate and that was returned to the City.
There is a hell of a difference in the comparison of the two projects and what it speaks to is that these "Gritty old mill town people" will get off their buts to make a project happen. When the PAC can demonstrate to the "Gritty old mill town people" that they have the fortitude to roll up their sleeves and put their collective shoulders to the wheel , we "Gritty old mill town people", I am sure will step up to the plate to help them in their quest.
I'm Meisner and that's one man's opinion.
Comments
Did Ben get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?
When PG decided it wanted a university here in the North didn’t the supporters quickly go out and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in $15 dollar donations from average people in the community? It wasn’t a lot of money raised, but it sure did show wide spread commitment from the community when people by the thousands were willing to put up $15 to be counted.
No just stating the facts, instead of laying in bed with his hand out from under the blankets looking for a resistant tax payers hand out.
Posted by: kendoo on November 27 2013 6:45 AM
No just stating the facts, instead of laying in bed with his hand out from under the blankets looking for a resistant tax payers hand out.
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I’ve read this 5 times now and I still know idea what you’re trying to say.
Nice to see that the volunteer hours are given a value in the calculation.
It usually helps when in expressing to other funders in a project at what the “donations in kind” are valued in dollars at best and otherwise at least in hours. Even if the dollar value is based on a single hourly rate, it is better than no tangible recognition.
“I’ve read this 5 times now and I still know idea what you’re trying to say”
Hmmm, the first time I read it, I immediately connected it to where it was intended.
What is wrong with being call a “Gritty Old Mill Town” . First, Gritty could mean hard working, determined, resolved. Second, We are old, over 100 last I checked. Third, We are definitely a mill town with 3 pulp mills and countless sawmills within the region. So I don’t see why this would be taken as an insult. We are a blue collar town, there is no denying that, and that being said, that is not a bad thing.
“We are a small gritty mill town in the hinterlands of BC.”
In other words we can’t be too extravagant when it comes to a certain luxury wish list item!
The PAC issue tends to bring out sarcasm in some people, in the past, present and will bring out more future!
That’s the way it goes.
Posted by NewPG: Did Ben get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?
Posted by: kendoo on November 27 2013 6:45 AM
No just stating the facts, instead of laying in bed with his hand out from under the blankets looking for a resistant tax payers hand out.
Posted by: axman “I’ve read this 5 times now and I still know idea what you’re trying to say”
Translation – Bens not grumpy, just stating the facts on history that he saw first hand. Unlike PAC – inference – who are lying in bed waiting for someone to give them a handout, rather than working for it – as did the boat launch people.
BTW – I’m not saying PAC people are lazy, just translating.
The inherent problems with the PAC remain. The city is not in a financial position to dump a bunch of money into a project of this nature. If people want to go out and raise the money themselves through other means then they should do that.
Prince George is old. It has a crumbling infrastructure that needs to be addressed before anything else.
thanks ski50 thats what i meant
“I want to take exception to the recent comments that suggest Prince George is a “gritty old mill town” and that the Nechako Boat Launch received a bunch of City money when a group undertook to replace the existing boat launch. That simply isn’t true”
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Well since this whole article was about the boat launch and since I was the one who mentioned it in one of my posts, let me point out what I actually said because I think Ben may be confused.
First off, I never said nor did I infer that the “Nechako Boat Launch received a bunch of city money”. What I did say was this:
“Where were the people demanding that the new baseball diamond be paid for by private donors? What about the Kin 1 upgrades? What about the Aquatic Centre? Boat launch at River Road? Etc? Etc? Etc?”
The whole point of that statement was to display the irony of expecting that a PAC would be funded solely by private contributions, while it was perfectly acceptable for every other facility in PG to be funded partially by the taxpayer. This even though not every taxpayer would use the facility.
Now, a city is perfectly entitled to make those choices as its their money. If they do, however, decide that they are willing to help pay for every facility EXCEPT for something like a PAC, that raises an interesting question. That question is why are they taking that position?
Logic would dictate that it’s simply a case of they don’t support a PAC. Again, that’s fine. It’s their choice. But it then raises another question as to why PG would choose to not support a PAC, when virtually every other similar sized city in Canada (and many smaller cities) would choose to support one. What is it about the demographics of PG that make a proposal like a PAC so offensive, whether itâs 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 or 2013?
Chew on that question for a while, do some inward thinking and come up with some thoughts or ideas, but please donât assume that I know nothing about the city I speak of. My roots there go back to the early years of South Fort George and like it or not, I have a pretty damn good idea of what the place is all about and what makes it tick. If you sense passion in some of my posts, itâs because I want to see the place prosper. Itâs not because I want to offend the city I grew up in, called home and ultimately left, partially because it and its attitudes chose not to change and grow with the world around it. Call it tough love if you will. Iâm sure that concept is well supported by those who comprise PGâs fabric ;)
NMG, your final paragraph states succinctly the same feelings I have for PG. I lived there for 37 years and finally got fed up waiting for the city to grow-up.
I didn’t just sit on my hands. I was involved. But when the support is so anemic for the arts in PG, a person starts to look outward to other locations that have more community support and involvement.
That’s why I know live in Port Moody, City of the Arts.
I truly wish PG all the success it can muster as my family still lives there. But as far as a PAC is concerned, how many times do you have to smack your head on the wall before you call it a bruise and back away?
arghh.. now.. not know… damned fingers.
I like this gritty ol mill town, those that don’t why ya here? Those that don’t live here and are criticising this town why?
Port Moody fill your boots, not for me. That area, busy, traffic, crowded naw I like being able to drive for 15 minutes and have nature to myself.
I did prefer PG in the sixties, you think its a gritty ol mill town now.
seamutt, I’ve seen more wildlife in Port Moody than I ever saw in PG. We have resident owls, coyotes, racoons, deer and bears wandering through our townhouse complex and the forest behind us on a fairly regular basis. The hiking is exceptional so don’t go there with me with PG and nature. I don’t need to drive 15 minutes. I walk there.
But this isn’t a pizzing contest about which town is better. It’s a discussion about whether PG has the support for a PAC in form or function. By the vibe shown in this forum I would say it’s never going to be supported.
Some people say “only when we have the money”. That’s been said for the last 40 years, even when the times were good.
“But this isn’t a pizzing contest about which town is better. It’s a discussion about whether PG has the support for a PAC in form or function. By the vibe shown in this forum I would say it’s never going to be supported.”
I think you’re mistaken. No one has said they don’t support a PAC; most of us are simply opposed to spending over 30 million dollars of taxpayer money on it.
I don’t see why they don’t just go out and raise the 10 million they claim they can and build one?
axman… as my comments on similar threads have said, even I think 30-40 million is a bit rich for the actual support it’s going to get in patrons.
My point is, if support is negative on a forum such as this (and one takes this a a city pulse), do you think they can raise that kind of cash? Are you willing to fork over a $1000 as a donation? That’s about the average it would cost if 10,000 donated. 1/7th of the population of PG, and I’m being generous with that.
And before people go analytical on me, yes I know corporate donation would far outweigh personal. I’m just trying to make a point of the level of commitment required by PG at large. I’m just not sure it’s there.
Posted by: Pylot Project on November 27 2013 3:17 PM
axman… as my comments on similar threads have said, even I think 30-40 million is a bit rich for the actual support it’s going to get in patrons.
My point is, if support is negative on a forum such as this (and one takes this a a city pulse), do you think they can raise that kind of cash? Are you willing to fork over a $1000 as a donation? That’s about the average it would cost if 10,000 donated. 1/7th of the population of PG, and I’m being generous with that.
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They’ll never know for sure until they start fundraising; I’m basing my 10 million dollar figure on what they tell me they can raise.
I would personally chip in a couple of hundred plus I’d go to the occasional show.
There you go PAC Society… are you watching? There’s a donor and potential season ticket holder right there.
;-)
Get off your butts and prove me wrong. Please.
The City of Prince George has been a kind of **loser** from the beginning.
If it had not been for developers in South Ft George, and Central Ft George trying to gouge the Railway it would not have located where it is, and there would be no Prince George. Soooo **Strike one**
The City much later wanted to amalgamate the Hart Hiway, South Fort George, Blackburn, VLA, etc; They had two referendums and lost them both. Then in **vintage** PG fashion they held a third vote that allowed the City population to vote, and of course the referendum passed. **Strike Two**
The City has a basic instinct that does not allow it to be honest with its citizens, and rarely if ever shares pertinent information with taxpayers. **Strike Three**
There are many areas where the City is not telling the whole story, not the least of which is the Community Energy System, Boundry Road, Upgrade to River Road, Dyke for River Road, PG Airport, etc; Terasen Gas Lease in Lease out agreement, Federal Government gas tax, etc; etc;
Another interesting tidbit is the petition for UNBC. This petition was for the whole of North Central BC, and took place over a period of almost a year. The plan was to get 50,000 signatures, with people paying $5.00 per signature. At the end of the day, they were only able to get 16000 signatures, or $80,000.00. However the story has turned into an urban legend and its now part of the history of UNBC. However like a lot of history, it is not totally correct,.
I think it would be fair to say the building of a PAC has been pushed by the City for a number of years, and is much more about jobs, contracts, architects, and engineers, and people making money, than it is about the Arts.
What town of this size in its right mind would spend $40 Million dollars for a PAC that has little or no support???
Time to wake up and smell the roses.
Someone moved away from PG because there wasn’t enough artsy stuff for them?? Wow, how shallow your life must be?
The PAC society has about 600 members….that doesn’t demonstrate very much community support, especially when many of those members are nothing more than names on a list.
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