Maclean's magazine has handed Prince George an image problem that could escalate into Mexico-size proportions, a partner in a Vancouver-based public relations firm suggested Thursday, adding there is time to turn it around before the Canada Winter Games are held.
People are going to think twice about visiting or moving to Prince George after being named Canada's most dangerous city for the third year in a row, Alyn Edwards of Peak Communicators Ltd. said.
"Instead of people thinking about Prince George as the hub of the north and a generally worthwhile place to live, do business and visit, they think of Prince George as a place to avoid," Edwards said.
One need only look south of the Rio Grande to known how big a problem such a reputation can be.
"As you know from from your knowledge of Mexico, people won't go to Mexico, including my wife because of the high crime rate and the number of Canadians who have fallen victim to the crime down there," Edwards said.
"It can be devastating to a city and community. It can affect people taking employment there, people vacationing there, to visit relatives, it can affect companies' decisions to open offices there or locate there, so it can have a devastating affect on the economy."
However, Edwards said Mayor Shari Green and Prince George RCMP Supt. Eric Stubbs took a good first step by holding a press conference Thursday afternoon shortly after learning Prince George will remain atop Maclean's annual crime ranking.
"This way, they have a chance to mitigate," Edwards said.
In contrast, he said Whistler made the wrong move when that municipality had no comment when Bob Fawcett was charged with executing 53 sled dogs.
"That went all over the world and Whistler decided to stay silent on that," he said, adding animal lovers everywhere are now boycotting the resort destination.
He said there is still time to improve Prince George's image before the Canada Winter Games arrive in February 2015 but there is plenty of work to do.
Edwards, who was a reporter for 30 years before switching over to public relations, specializes in getting the word out on the positives a community possesses. For example, Edwards has done work to counter Trail's characterization as a pulp mill town by playing up its covered staircases, rock walls built by Italian artisans, community spirit and strong economy whenever he gets the chance - often in travel and lifestyle publications.
He calls extolling such virtues "deposits to the bank of goodwill" so that when a crisis strikes there is something to draw on to counter the negative publicity.
"Prince George has a lot of attributes too and I don't know what the city does to sell itself," Edwards said. "And just that alone tells me the city is not doing a good job, so when I get this news that it's a very dangerous place according to the statistics, it doesn't make me want to go there."
