Organizers of the annual P.G. Skates are hoping that Mother Nature is kinder to them this year.
The Prince George Winter City Committee has slated the second edition of the event to take place Feb. 19 at the Outdoor Ice Oval with the intention of encouraging the city's residents to enjoy the benefits of living in a winter city.
But the fact that Prince George is a winter city can also make for some challenging situations.
"[Last year] the night before the event, it snowed a huge amount, so people were more focused on digging themselves out of the snow than having some skating time," said committee member Betty Burbee. But thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, the ice surfaces were cleared and those that came out for the event had a good time.
The committee has made changes from last year for the 2012 edition of P.G. Skates. "Hopefully every year's a little different," Burbee said.
Where last year there were four ice surfaces, this year all skating is focused at the outdoor oval. Between 1 and 3 p.m., residents are invited to bring their skates and helmet and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate.
"This year the city's mascots have been invited to participate as well as members of the Cariboo Cougars who are in town for the weekend and there's going to be face painting and some of the local figure skaters have been invited to come," Burbee said.
The free event is also an opportunity for those who aren't acquainted with the city's 400-metre long track speedskating facility behind CN Centre.
"There are many people in town who don't know we have an
outdoor oval," Burbee said.
"There's no charge for it. It's a great event for families and
students to be involved in."
Like many community events, P.G. Skates relies on volunteers, especially the handful of people who work to keep the ice surface of the Outdoor Oval maintained, Burbee said.
"Last year, we had such a lot of snow and that little group got that surface clear and I was so appreciative and impressed with what they'd done," she said, also relating a story of a family who prepared the ice at the Westwood school rink for the event.
"For two hours, a dad and two little girls hosted that surface and I think my husband and myself were the only ones that came. But they were there, they cleaned off that surface and had the hot chocolate ready," Burbee said.
The Winter City Committee has combined with what used to be the Prince George branch of Communities In Bloom to become an Enhance P.G. advisory committee for city council. The committee also works to enhance winter life for residents by offering community enhancement grants, seed money of up to $1,000 for those looking to get projects off the ground.
But on Feb. 19, the committee is just hoping to see people take advantage of what the city already has to offer for winter recreation.
"Even if you're not a skater, if some people in your family are, come out and just enjoy the gathering," Burbee said.
