"Prince George Citizen, read all about it!"
That's what Jo-Anne Brietzke, now 75, would call out as she sold newspapers on the street as the first Citizen paper girl in the 1950s.
Jo, as she is called nowadays, was nine years old when she started. At first the boys didn't like it much because, of course, people liked to buy the newspaper from a girl, rather than a boy, she recalled with a laugh.
"I was kind of raised on Third and George and it was nothing too extraordinary back then," said Jo. "You just went down the street and yelled your guts out 'Prince George Citizen, read all about it!' and people would buy the paper. But you must remember back then people would walk on the streets and wouldn't have a problem."
To make her money work for her, Jo would come to the newspaper's office with her nickel and buy two papers, turn around and sell them each for a nickel. Then Jo, who is one of the daughters of well-known local photographer Wally West, would bring her ten cents back to the office to buy four more and sell papers until she had 50 cents.
That would get her into the show for 35 cents, after she ate her hot dog and chips that cost 15 cents. Not too bad for the nine-year-old entrepreneur.
"It was enough to keep you going," said Jo.
Soon people would ask her to deliver the newspaper to their door. In those days, carriers would provide home delivery to whoever wanted the paper.
It wasn't until later that regular routes were established by the newspaper.
After she delivered and sold papers for a while, she was accepted by the boys and they knew they could rely on her to deliver to their regular customers when they went on vacation or got sick.
When she turned 13, it was time to retire as a newspaper carrier and she went to work in her father's photography studio. Jo did office work and whatever else needed doing, she said.
When she grew up, she and her husband, Jack Brietzke, moved to Terrace and Quadra Island for his work, only to return to Prince George 35 years later to retire.
During that time Jo-Anne and her husband raised two children and a grandchild, until Jack's death in 2006.
Jo said the skills she learned selling newspapers held her in good stead throughout her life.
"I've never been afraid to go after what I want," said Jo.
As part of The Citizen's 100th anniversary in February 2016, we're sharing stories of local residents who played a role in the newspaper's success over the years. If you have a story to tell, we'd love to hear it and share it with our readers. Drop us a line at [email protected].
