This column was first published in the Sept. 29, 1999 edition of The Citizen:
The first half of the 1940s saw wartime years for Canada. With Prince George sons away at war, American mothers' sons arrived in this city awaiting deployment to Alaska Highway construction.
Whatever the reason for troop movement in and out of Prince George, the temporary residents of military bases were made welcome here. It became common for residents to welcome soldiers into their homes to share family meals and evenings together.
Apart from sharing private hospitality, what did people do for entertainment? Organizations and traditions prevailed, and continued programs of activity despite rationing and decreased membership numbers. These are some examples of the distractions on offer.
- The St. Andrew's and Caledonian Society never let Jan. 25 pass without celebrating the life of Robbie Burns. The annual banquet was always well attended, but in 1942 the Prince George Hotel could accommodate only 100 revelers.
- The Board of Trade and the Junior Chamber of Commerce held regular dinner meetings, always including a speaker or some other form of entertainment. The JCC's entertainment committee once announced that their program would "make all present sit on the edge of their chairs!"
- The Prince George Curling Club held its annual bonspiel and hosted teams from around the region. Some travelled from as far away as Williams Lake to compete. Hockey tournaments also carried on.
- The Strand Theatre showed the latest movies. This was the era when the big box office stars like John Wayne and Rita Hayworth were in their prime. Singer and dancer Marjorie Reynolds visited Prince George briefly in 1943 on her way north to entertain American soldiers. Her latest movie, "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire had just been featured here.
- Churches organized teas and dinners. Fundraisers were geared to sending parcels to soldiers or toys to orphaned children in Europe. The Salvation Army regularly held concerts to entertain the soldiers.
- The Chamber of Commerce organized Dominion Day celebrations. Featured attractions included a bathing beauty contest, with entrants enticed by being paid $3 to enter and compete for the $50 prize; a midway on Dominion Street between Third and Fourth avenues; a softball tournament; a horseshoe pitching competition; a parade; and even a married women's nail driving contest.
- For Labour Day celebrations each September, a special soldiers' track and field event attracted a large turnout.
- The City of Prince George made a gift of 50 boxes of apples to the soldiers stationed here over Christmas in 1942. Mayor Patterson received a written acknowledgement from the Commanding Officer who described the gift as "a pleasant reminder of the happy relations existing between the citizens of Prince George and the soldiers quartered in your hospitable area."
- The cycle of the year repeated through the seasons in similar fashion during successive war years. Every organization geared activities to demonstrations of patriotism and concern for those serving at the front.
