There is nothing that gets me more jazzed than writing about the wonderful people of Prince George being their wonderful selves. Whether it’s people achieving their athletic goals, showcasing artistic talents, reaching milestones or following their passions, it is always an honour and a privilege to share a bit of them with our readers. In no particular order here are some of my top picks from 2024.
Randy Mackus
When I went to interview Randy Mackus I was immediately so blown away by his attitude toward life. He’s a quarter amputee after having his left arm and shoulder taken by cancer in 1996.
This athlete had to pivot in a way few people experience and when he took those swings at the driving range last summer, putting all the two-armed golfers to shame with his powerful backhand it made me gasp in amazement. The combination of his having to overcome so many physical challenges while getting his head around the whole thing to achieve championship goals is truly inspirational.
Mrs. Doreen Denicola
One of my favourite elders in the whole wide world is Mrs. Doreen Denicola. She is a living breathing encyclopedia of Prince George knowledge and she does not hesitate to share it all. She’s passionate about Mr. PG and how the forest industry changed the landscape of the growing city. She only wants the best for this city and when there was a lull in the production of the little Mr. PG icon in wooden statue form in 1990 – when she was 61 years old - she took it upon herself to build them herself. She asked her beloved husband, Armand, to teach her how to make them and he bought her all the tools, showed her how to use them and off she went, creating more than 243 dozen of the little treasures before someone else took it over in 2012. She is another true inspiration showcasing her tenacity.
Spencer Rourke and Sam Russell, Special Olympic Athletes
Let’s talk about circumstances that are so very touching, it’s 11 months later and I still get goosebumps. Spencer Rourke and Sam Russell are two Special Olympic athletes who were at curling practice at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club heading to the National Special Olympics championships. Sam was sitting beside Spencer and told him he had just lost his beloved grandmother the day before. Spencer wrapped his arms around Sam and immediately reacted with words of comfort.
“We’ll play at Nationals for your grandma, Sam, we’re going to get through this together, right Sam?” Spencer said. “Remember we’re family.”
It was almost my undoing.
Many of you know I made the choice a long time ago that I wasn’t going to be that hardened reporter that just shakes off all the emotions. I wear my heart on my sleeve and cry right along with you as you share your heartfelt stories with me and I own it. Heck, I’ll even bring the Kleenex.
So be proud of me, I didn’t start to blubber. I had to keep it together for their sakes. It’s one of my favourite memories and I feel honoured I witnessed that precious moment between friends.
Gladys and Allan Thorp
Allan and Gladys Thorp celebrated 70 years of marriage this year. At 93 and 92 years old they are a couple anchored in love.
I went to their house to do the interview with the charming duo. Gladys very charmingly came to the door to greet me wearing her nightie because her wedding dress, that yes, she can still fit into 70 years later, is old-timey lace with about 100 buttons up the back and I was going to help do it up. The dress was still beautiful and delicate and with less than nimble fingers I did my part as we chatted about the quality of clothing from that era. Al had his original wool suit and as beautiful as Gladys looked, Al looked so very handsome, too. The suit was a little baggie, he admitted. And then he did the thing I’ve been talking about since it happened. He pulled a mint out of his pocket that he had placed there on his wedding day 70 years earlier. When we were done, he just slipped that candy back in the pocket. Talk about history. And this couple who have enjoyed more than 70 years together are the perfect picture of love.
Rae McIntyre
Rae McIntyre, 88, had done some wood carving throughout his life and decided in 2021 that he was going to create vignettes in bottles, like a ship in a bottle, only images that were reflective of his family’s lives.
He created a vignette featuring three hand-carved golfers in a bottle to honour his son, Ken and the scene of a hunter with his loyal dog was dedicated to his son Gary.
Prophetically Rae said something in the interview that shook me a bit about an upcoming project.
“It may be the last project I ever do.”
Rae unfortunately took ill and passed away three short months after his story got published in The Citizen. I am so honoured that I could share Rae’s story. Rae was kind enough to call me when he saw the story in the paper to thank me and say that he was truly enjoying his new-found fame. I was thrilled for him and looking back I am especially happy I wasn’t too late to share his talents with his friends, family and Citizen readers.
Elder Darlene McIntosh
I have been a big fan of Lheidli T’enneh Elder Darlene McIntosh since the first time she told me to stop and take a deep breath and ground myself to Mother Earth. I am so glad I listened. Man, did I need to hear that. And I am sure I was not the only one at that gathering, at that place, at the time where hundreds of people were because Darlene provides that safe space to take that deep breath and stop for a moment every time she welcomes us to the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh on we which we all live, work and play.
She is the cultural advisor in the Aboriginal Resource Centre at the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern BC Chancellor and she is a force as strong as Mother Nature herself. She is a great advocate for human beings everywhere and I am thrilled to know her. She is such an accomplished person and with her knowledge, wisdom and guidance we can all learn a little bit more on this journey toward Truth & Reconciliation.
Murray (Murph) Laidlaw
Now this is a fun one. Murph Laidlaw came to my attention after I saw local commercials he was in. He plays a funny character enjoying some local vendors’ food in one, then he wanders over to a golf course in another to exemplify the perfect ‘don’t be that guy’ character.
And slowly but surely Murph became a big deal. He’s in a Paramount Plus commercial and I’m not sure who’s the sidekick - him or the mountain goat, and he was the Canadian tuxedo guy in the Summer Olympics Petro Canada commercials.
Since then he’s been working on a secret something I’m sure we’ll see soon enough.
Murph is one of those one-in-a-million guys who just lights up a room when he walks in. You know he’s up for some fun and brings that sense of mischief with him everywhere he goes.
Be sure to keep your eye out for Murph. He’s everywhere these days.
Christina Watts
Christina Watts, who was part of the Prince George & District Community Arts Council for years and most recently has come on board with Tourism Prince George, had a scare this year. From one moment to the next her eyesight was severely compromised and the healthcare system saw a hiccup that could have interfered with her treatments. Luckily after months of treatment for her wet macular degeneration in her left eye, her sight has improved and Christina was kind enough to share with readers what it was like to go through the struggle she endured mid-crisis. Something not many people are willing to do. But her thinking is if it can help one other person, she’s all in.
I am a great admirer of those who are on-the-fly adapters, who see the problem and instead of sitting and thinking about it, just leap into it with both feet and start running and that’s Christina.
Thanks for being an inspiration. I appreciate you showing us how it's done.
Tuomas Ukonmaanaho
Tuomas Ukonmaanaho is the first member of the Prince George Track & Field Club who was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award as he approached 80 years old. He is the current Canadian record holder for the decathlon for men aged 75-79 and the athlete that currently holds 29 records including world records for the 4x400m relay and the 4x800m relay. And he’s a sprinter. He’s held at least 47 records in the past but can’t be sure the exact number because he doesn’t keep track and doing research can only access records listed online.
Ukon Tom, as he is known at the track, has spent his time training with the young ones in the club. He mentors them, he offers advice on how to tweak things for better results and he offers encouragement. Tom runs like a gazelle and it’s amazing to watch him in action.
Harry Backlin
Harry Backlin, 95 years old, continues to work as a commercial realtor in Prince George. Over the last 49 years he as been an integral part of commercial and industrial development in the city. Earlier this year when Mayor Simon Yu asked Backlin what businesses he had a hand in bringing to Prince George he decided to put them down on paper. There are 35 game changers on the list, including White Spot, Tim Hortons and Wendy’s, Costco, Canadian Tire and Princess Auto. Industrial developments like Boundary Road, and spaces for oil, lumber and forestry companies, several banks and impactful institutions like the University of Northern BC and the Provincial and Superior Courts of BC in downtown Prince George.
And there’s no end to that list.
“There’s a lot more opportunities to be had in Prince George, we just have to be positive about it,” Backlin said.
Shirley Bond
When the rug got pulled out from under Shirley Bond’s feet earlier this year, she just skipped right over it and kept on moving forward – like she always has. Kevin Falcon yanked BC United out of the provincial election without any notice. It was a shock to everyone including Bond and she chose to end her stellar career as a beloved MLA on her terms, choosing not to run as an independent in the BC election held in October. Community members honoured Bond with a tribute not long after that to give her a glimpse of the impact she made on Prince George and the Province of BC. She is truly a remarkable woman who gives of her time so generously and continues to do so as she most recently became the director for public relations for the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games that will take place in Prince George from July 10 to13. Can’t wait to see what she takes on next.
