I love it here. We moved here two years ago for the access to outdoors, the cost of living, to raise a family and our experience so far everything we expected. It has been wonderful, except for its obsession with hosting events in parking lots.
I am writing on Saturday night with the faint sound of April Wine in the background. What I don't understand is, why are they playing in a parking lot? And why do we keep having events in that parking lot?
People complain about a lot of things. It seems like Cariboo Rocks the North is a touch point for people of Prince George. Some people don't like the noise, the 80's genre, others don't like that a councillor is promoting the event, no one talks about the venue! It’s a parking lot!
A community our size needs these types of events. Maybe a different genre but who am I to complain? A lot of effort goes into putting on these events, so I am grateful that people do put the extra effort in to put on these events. I just wish it was in a better location.
The first event we went to was the Night Market. I have been to night markets in other cities and they are great. They show the funk and creativity of the local artisans, you meet new people and feel a sense of community. The one in Prince George was not. It was a very hot day, with no shelter from the sun, and it was in a parking lot.
There are some amazing public places in Prince George: Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park, Connaught Hill, Rainbow Park, Cottonwood Island Park. In my opinion all great places for events, much better than a parking lot.
So why the parking lot?
Lots of room and event parking, I guess? Having said that, have you ever been to any event at CN Centre? I timed it during the Cougars playoffs. It took me 58 minutes to leave the main parking lot. So you can you argue the reason for having events there is parking. Surely you could walk less than an hour and find a parking spot anywhere else in Prince George.
In closing, If the City of Prince George is going to support an event with taxpayers dollars can we at least showcase a little bit of the city.
Nick Flanders
Prince George
