As part of a 100th anniversary project, a group of elementary students from Harwin, Ron Brent and Spruceland came up with who they think are the city's top 15 citizens of the past century.
"This project has been a great opportunity for the students to learn how to research, to learn about great people who have roots in Prince George, and to realize the qualities that these people have," said Tom Skinner, a Harwin teacher who facilitates the weekly group meetings.
Carrie Jane Gray - Carrie Jane Gray
Researched by Rebecca Nore
"Carrie Jane Gray was the first female mayor in Prince George from 1958 to 1959. She ran for city council in 1952, and got the position of alderman, also making her the first female alderman in Prince George. She held this position until 1957. Then she successfully ran for mayor in 1958. During her time as mayor she controlled the health committee and the cemetery committee. She witnessed the opening of Fort George Park as well as Connaught Hill. After her time as mayor, Gray was elected alderman once again in 1965. She held this position for another many years. Gray died in 1984. We feel Gray deserves to be on our list because of the years of service that she dedicated to our community. Prince George is a better place today because of her."
Sharon Hurd
Researched by Lily Selinger
"Sharon Hurd has dedicated her life to helping people in need. She has worked for 15 years at the Phoenix Transition House, a 24-hour shelter that provides services and programs for women and children experiencing a crisis. She is also a board member of the Huda Lake Wellness Project for women with addictions, and is also a board member of the Prince George Council of Seniors, and of the Prince George crisis line. She has helped many people throughout the city and her thoughtfulness is a trait that should be admired by others in our city."
Dick Voneugen
Researched by Brenden Patenaude
"Dick Voneugen was my choice because of all the things he has done for Prince George, like founding the Prince George Outdoor Ice Oval, founding the Greenway Society, and often clearing the path from Otway to UNBC so that people can hike, ski, run and bike. Voneugen organized the first Terry Fox Run in 1981 and is responsible for many of the local running and cross country ski races, as he helped found the Prince George Roadrunners Club. For his contributions to local athletics and his many hours of volunteering, Voneugen deserves to be on our list of outstanding citizens."
John Flatt
Researched by Gaston Gilliard
"Born partly blind and deaf in one ear, John Flatt has worked hard to make the lives of others better. Mr. C.N.I.B., as he is known, worked for the better of mental and physical health, fighting for workers rights for the disabled. He has helped fundraise for hospital equipment, as well as chair and volunteer at many local foundations, including the Lions Club, the Hart Community Centre, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Child Development Centre. He was told by his father as a kid to do his own work, so he worked hard and became Prince George's citizen of the year in 2001 in his hometown. Even though Flatt fell low at times, that's what makes him one of the greatest Prince George. citizens ever."
Henry George Thomas "Harry" Perry
Researched by Haley Lindstrom
"Perry was a real-estate and insurance broker, journalist and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Fort George in B.C.'s legislative assembly from 1920 to 1928, and from 1933 to 1945 as a liberal. He came to Canada in 1910 and settled in Prince George in 1912. He was mayor of Prince George from 1917 to 1918. He was owner and editor of the Fort George Tribune, The Prince George Citizen, The Nechako Chronicle and the Prince Rupert Daily News. He was speaker for the assembly in 1934 to 1937 and served in the British Columbia cabinet as Minister of Education from 1941 to 1945. He died of a heart attack at age 70 in December 1959,"
UNBC Founders
Researched by Matt Lybbert
"We included many people in this one entry, because it was hard to select a single person who was responsible for such a big accomplishment. The UNBC founders were Ray Williston, Tom Steadman, Charles McCaffrey, Bryson Stone, Murray Sadler, Elsie Gerdes and Roy Stewart. Ray Williston (MLA) set aside land to create the University Society in the 1960's, but it took until 1987 when Tom Steadman, Charles McCaffrey, and Bryson Stone began talking about about making a northern university. UNBC was built in 1990 for people to come and learn, play, and work, but it's first chair people would be Murray Sadler, Elsie Gerdes and Roy Stewart. The UNBC founders did a great thing building UNBC, because it helps to empower local residents, and brings smart people to Prince George."
Murry Krause
Researched by Amanda Alcombrack
"I chose Murry Krause as my outstanding citizen because of his commitment to the public. He was involved in various leadership roles: community planning council, AIDS Prince George, Prince George homeless shelter, hospice society, food bus program, and lots more. Murray has been volunteering in this community since he was a teenager when he was the youth representative on the first Prince George planning council."
Monica Peacock
Researched by Sierra Kivi
"Monica Peacock made our list of noteworthy citizens because she is a huge part of our community. Monica has lived in Prince George for about 20 years now and has helped with the Festival of Trees for many years. It is one of the largest fundraisers for the Spirit of The North Hospital Foundations, which supports healthcare in and around Prince George. She has a keen interest in the youth of today. During her 11 years as founder and organizer of Evening of Pink, a fundraiser that enhances healthcare for cancer patients in the north, more than 360 adolescents have volunteered for the event. Her years as an event planner and small business owner have given her invaluable tools for becoming a part of city council. Although Peacock has not yet succeeded in joining our city council, she should still be recognized for what she has succeeded in and for everything she does for Prince George."
Granny Seymour
Researched by Faith Young
"Granny Seymour, the most honoured elder of the Lheidli T'enneh Nation, was born in South Fort George in 1852. Jim Bouchey, her father, was a Hudson's Bay Company man. Seymour helped out at his Hudson Bay Fort. She spoke Carrier, French, and English, and also said, "Medicine is grown and put on the earth for us to use; to make use of it, not sell it." Seymour had great knowledge of healing medicines and was good at growing roots and herbs. She distrusted modern medicines and claimed the modern preparations spoiled the pure medicine made by the roots and herbs. Seymour's reputation soon reached beyond Prince George, bringing many tourists to her home. At 113 years of age she still used wild roots to preserve her health. She outlived all of her 14 children except one, and died at 114 years old in 1966. More than 250 people attended her funeral and she is still honoured and largely known by many people to this day."
John Anker Pettersen
Researched by Bryce Warner
"John Pettersen was always known as Prince George’s Mr. Cross-Country for skiing, not only in Price George, but in British Columbia and throughout Canada. It was quite the feat considering he was born in Norway and migrated to Canada in 1953, before getting all cozy in Prince George in 1957. He built the first lodge plus the first ski trails at Tabor Mountain, as well as being part of the group to submit the proposal create Otway. John was the top official, manager, and coach for skiing in P.G, and Pettersen served as manager/coach at the 1963 Canadian Junior Ski Championships in Banff. Pettersen even stretched his efforts into biathlon as well. In 1964, he built the very first biathlon shooting range outside of an armed forces base in Canada. We feel he should be on our list because of the large positive impact he's had on our community."
Carol Upshaw
Researched by David Vickery
"Carol Upshaw is a big help at AiMHi. AiMHi is a place in Prince George that helps people if they have a disability. There are two departments that you can work at. One is life skills, where you can teach people how to become self dependent. The other one is where you go to a house with people with disabilities, and help them until your shift ends. Carol works in the life skills department. If she wasn’t there, the life skills department wouldn’t be as functional as it is now. She makes around 250 appointments with about 20 workers happen. If someone is sick that day she is the one that has to get the coverage for the people that they support for that day. She does this without any help; she is the only manager there. That’s why we believe she should be on the list."
Jack Nicholson
Researched by Kierra Johnson
"We have chosen Jack Nicholson for our list because of his accomplishments before, during, and after being mayor. Although he was mayor of Prince George at one point, he was not born in Canada at all. In fact, he came from England to Prince George in 1934, soon to become mayor from 1945 to 1949. Before he was mayor though, he opened the first Overwaitea, a grocery store in town. As the owner of the store, Nicholson encouraged an “open-door” policy, meaning employees could come to him with questions, concerns, and suggestions. When he was mayor, the CKPG. Radio Station began broadcasting and an early stage First Avenue sewer system was started. Later, when he wasn’t mayor anymore, he worked as a parking meter attendant, as a scout leader for 35 years and as a member of the school board for 16 years. Nicholson Street is named after him. Nicholson was involved in the early development of Prince George, so we believe that he should be included on our list."
Roy Spooner
Researched by Sebastian Sundquis
"Roy Spooner was named Citizen Of The Year in 2014 and spent years working with many organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion. He has donated many hours to the Barkerville Heritage Trust, the Aboriginal Business Development Centre, The Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation. Roy made our list for his contributions to business, education, community support, and the arts in Prince George."
W.G. Gillet
Researched by Kyra Reid
"We chose W.G. Gillet to be on our list because he was the first mayor of Prince George. He built the first permanent city hall in 1917. Gillet Street was named after him. On May 20 1915, a plebiscite was held to decide the name of our city, and he oversaw it as it became Prince George. He dealt with several arguments concerning the location of the railway station. He was also the only mayor in the history of B.C. to personally sign a bank note for a loan to successfully run Prince George."
Bridget Moran
Researched by Tom Skinner, teacher
"Bridget Moran grew up in Success, Saskatchewan, and after becoming a teacher at a rural schoolhouse, she enlisted in the Women's Royal Canadian Service from 1944-1946. She moved to Prince George after completing a Philosophy and English degree at U of T, and began working as a social worker, interested in child welfare and homelessness. She spoke out on issues that needed addressing, and her criticisms of government often landed her in trouble (including a controversial open letter to William Bennett in 1964). As a social worker she worked at the Prince George Hospital, as well as for the school district until she retired in 1989. After her retirement she became a writer, fascinated with the local history of Prince George, as well as re-telling lost stories about the tragic lives of First Nations women in our area. Her book Prince George Remembered recalls her time in Prince George since she first moved here. She won many awards for her writing, and was made an honorary member at the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women. She served on the boards at the Legal Services Society, at CNC, and at the Yinka Dene Language Institute. Today, a statue in her honour greets pedestrians at Quebec St & 3rd Avenue, and Bridget Moran Place, a support house for those in need, is appropriately named after her."
Submissions have been edited for clarity and space.
Who's your top citizen? We're making a reader list. Email page2@pgcitizen.ca
Submissions have been edited for clarity and space.
