He spoke of the ultimate sacrifice made by Darren Fitzpatrick, the young man who died in the service of Canada in Afghanistan and that Fitzpatrick will not be forgotten.

He talked of the downtown, and that within the next month,  the City will unveil a new incentive program that will send the message that now is the time to invest in the north.

He spoke of the success in the winning of the bid for the Canada Winter Games and said it was a success that has given residents an “extra swagger in the step of every Prince George resident, and rightfully so.”

While celebrating the past year Mayor Rogers looked to the future and the work that lies ahead as the City prepares to host the 2015 Winter Games. “We will become a stronger city and ultimately stage a truly unique and memorable Canada Games that reflects the best of British Columbia and the best of Prince George.”

Upcoming budget priorities will be the work on Boundary road, the potential tendering and start of construction for the new RCMP building, and the initiation of the $15 million dollar downtown district energy system,. Planning for the capital improvements for the Canada Winter Games will also start in the year ahead with nearly $17 million to be spent on the Kin Centre.

He said there will be an increased effort to “shake off the remains of a false image of this city that still lingers in some circles of this province and beyond”. To that end, there will be a concerted effort to strengthen the City’s brand and there will be “a focused campaign to convey the wonderful opportunities that await those who come, to live pay or invest.”

The Mayor says the City will work with Initiatives Prince George and Tourism Prince George and others to ensure “We do a better job in telling the story of the new Prince George, the University City, the City that will host the nation in 2015.”