Harold Moffat Dies

Wednesday, April 01, 2009 11:58 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Former Mayor of Prince George, Harold Moffat has died. Moffat was the mayor of Prince George from 1969 to 1979.

(at right Harold Moffat, photo courtesy Prince George City Hall)

Born in 1915 in South Fort George, Moffat later owned the Northern Hardware store a business started by his father 90 years ago.

As mayor, Moffat was very concerned the city would fall victim to overspending, causing high taxes and preventing people from investing and living in the city. He proposed to keep the city of Prince George safe, competitive in terms of investments and to ensure the city was a safe place to live.

Moffat added The Oil Refinery and Canfor Pulp Mill to the city's tax base.

During Moffat's time as mayor, a number of exciting changes took place in Prince George:

The first Parkade was built downtown.
In 1975 an important referendum passed which made the following areas officially part of Prince George: Hart Highway, College Heights, Haldi Road, Blackburn, Western Acres, Van Bow, North Nechako, South Fort George.

( at left,Don, Gilbert, Keith and Harold Moffat make up the Moffat rink in the annual Prince George Curling Bonspiel. January 1959, photo courtesy Exploration Place)

Mayor Dan Rogers issued the following statement upon hearing about the death of Harold MOffat:

Harold Moffat was an iconic figure in our community, who spearheaded major development of Prince George during his decade as Mayor from 1969 - 1978. His contributions to the city were also evident above and beyond his time in office.

Enhancement of the downtown was extremely important to him, as it is for the City today.

Our sincere condolences go out to his wife Helen and their family.

Mayor Dan Rogers, Prince George City Council and Staff

Writer Valerie Gies, who wrote the book "Harold Moffat and Northern Hardware", says the history of the Moffat family, the business and the City of Prince George are so interwoven it is hard to distinguish one from the other.

Moffat passed away at the Prince George Rotary Hospice House Tuesday, he was 93.

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Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 11:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: beesknees on April 1 2009 12:35 PM

The man walked on water. A real gem. PG lost a real piece of its history today.

RIP

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 1 2009 3:02 PM

A great guy and he will be missed!
He ran one damn fine hardware business and there was a time up until not so long ago, I would never have considered going anywhere else!
He will be missed.
RIP.

Posted by: He speaks on April 1 2009 3:02 PM

His Motto at the store was "If we don't have it, you don't need it". If you can't find it anywhere in those big box store, go see the boys at the Northern.

Posted by: He speaks on April 1 2009 3:03 PM

Long lived the King. RIP

Posted by: fawcett on April 1 2009 3:12 PM

This man ran the best hardware store I've ever even heard of, and he was a good man. This is a big loss to the city. He'll be missed.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on April 1 2009 3:12 PM

Wasn't his motto "Closed Mondays"?
RIP

Posted by: Don Wilkins on April 1 2009 6:52 PM

Mr. Moffat always had the time for his customers. He was a kind, gentle man that gave much to this city.

Posted by: BC Mary on April 1 2009 8:50 PM

When the first edition of The Canadian LOG HOUSE magazine in Prince George (at Prince George Printers), I asked the Mayor to write a letter for the occasion. Harold Moffat did that for me, and his letter takes up the first page of the first edition of that successful series. It is dated 1974.

I'd like to repeat his words here as a tribute to Harold and to his family.

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

The Canadian Log House

I spent most of my youth in a log home constructed in 1915 in the days when insulation and heating plants were in their infancy. The house, 153N Moffat Street is still occupied although with more modern appertances [sic]. With the greater research and knowledge available, the "Log House" of today should far outclass, outlive and be a sounder investment than the nearly 60 year old homes of yester year. I would congratulate the Mackie family for their effort and dedication to the renewal of interest in full utilization of local materials.

Best wishes,

Harold A. Moffat,
Mayor.

My condolences to the Moffat family and to the City that Harold loved so well.

Posted by: BC Mary on April 1 2009 8:52 PM

... when the first edition WAS PUBLISHED in Prince George. Sorry for the omission.

Posted by: willowynde on April 1 2009 9:36 PM

I was one of the lucky people to know Harold outside of his business. He was involved with horses, so was I. Much later I found he was part of Northern Hardware when he helped me solve a problem about my shop doors. Maybe he was a politician, maybe he was a succesful businessman. Okay, but to me he was a person. A person who rememberd who you were even tho' many years passed. A person who would help anyone, anywhere and truly exemplified what being a citizen of Prince George meant, and should mean today.

Posted by: He speaks on April 1 2009 10:50 PM

truly a great man, when no word of ill can be spoken of him. Rest in Peace, and watch over us.

Posted by: Eagleone on April 2 2009 7:44 AM

A PG icon if ever there was one. RIP Harold, and my condolences to your family, many of whom I've come to know over the years.