There's no prey in Prince George for Mantracker to hunt. Instead he's signing autographs and posing for photos at Prince George Motors Saturday, April 28 from noon to 3 p.m. -- but it's gonna cost ya'.
The event is a by-donation fundraiser for the Connaught Youth Centre.
"I don't care if it's a loonie, a toonie or what, but it's all going to the kids," said Garth Miller of Prince George Motors.
"During the last two or three years I've done a lot of traveling around and speaking and autograph signings," said Mantracker, Terry Grant. "It's still a really cool feeling to walk up to where you're signing autographs and see all those people lined up waiting to see you and they all cheer and clap when you get there. It's still got the wow factor to it and it's great."
OLN's Mantracker show has done really well and it's touched everyone from four to 84, added Grant, who's last season as Mantracker was aired last summer. "I miss the show, I miss the people, I miss the country and getting out and seeing new country and meeting new people. It wasn't my direct choice to leave and I'll make due. Like a good boy scout I'll learn to improvise and adapt. There's been several producers that have asked me if I'd be interested in doing something else and I'm still talking to producers about different shows and ideas but we haven't got anything solidified yet."
In addition to the public appearance that's paid for by Prince George Motors, Terry Grant will be presenting a talk to the Cadets for no extra charge at the Connaught Youth Centre April 28.
"I have no real cut and dried speech that I rehearse, I normally give a talk about twenty minutes on how I went from Terry Grant, cowboy, to Mantracker," said Terry Grant. "Then I open the floor to questions and it doesn't matter what they ask -- it can be about the show, horses, tracking, the weather, the country I've seen, people I've met -- I'm happy to talk about it all."
Captain Eric Callaghan, current supply officer of local squadron 296 Air Cadets and affiliated since 1973, is also current commanding officer of Mackenzie Air Cadets and has worked with the Connaught Youth Centre building since 1982.
"Bottom line, I love to work with the youth of Prince George," said Callaghan. "Prince George Motors is bringing Terry Grant into Prince George and Terry Grant's got a soft spot for youth organizations and Garth Miller of PG Motors is heading up the event and contacted me about it."
Miller is selling tickets to business people in town who will in turn donate the tickets to the Cadets who will attend the event. The tickets are $20 each and 100 per cent of the proceeds go to the operating costs of the Connaught Youth Centre.
"There's 300 seats available for the kids and I've already sold all the tickets and people keep bringing me money so if we can raise about $10,000 for the Connaught Youth Centre I'd be happy," said Miller, who asked customers to donate to the cause.
"Mantracker usually charges for public speaking but when he heard it was for Cadets he said no charge," explained Callaghan. "The Cadet program is one of the best kept secrets in Canada. The federal government provides its program that's supported by the military and provides summer camps for the youth and staff and officers but every unit has to fundraise money for their own personal unit over the winter time. The Connaught Youth Centre, a city owned building, costs us about $60,000 a year to keep open -- and that's just heat and electrical."
