You may notice that Mr. PG is looking toasty in a new hand-knitted scarf.
The iconic Prince George symbol is wearing it throughout December as a way to bring awareness that not everyone is warm this winter.
The beloved mythical log man’s new 13 metre-long scarf was knitted by 10 local women between the ages of 67 and 92, who started the project in the summer as a way to connect socially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They met outdoors at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park, and each knitted a few squares of the scarf, the colours of which represent different organizations and sports teams in Prince George, and took hundreds of hours to create.
Normally, the women knit mittens, toques, scarves, and sweaters for families in need and give much of their time to support local charities.
In that spirit, Mr. PG is wearing the scarf this month to bring attention to the work of charitable organizations and to encourage everyone to support this work with donations.
"Who wouldn't want to be the only person to have the same scarf as Mr. PG?" says Prince George Mayor Lyn Hall.
"It’s terrific that Mr. PG is using his popularity to draw attention to people who are less-fortunate, especially during this pandemic.
"If Mr. PG symbolizes the spirit of our community, these local women - and so many others who give of their time and talents - embody that spirit through their acts of charity and kindness. It's important that we all share in this spirit year 'round, but especially in the winter.”
Mr. PG’s new 13m-long scarf was knitted by ten local women between the ages of 67 and 92, who started the project in the summer as a way to connect socially during the COVID-19 pandemic. (via City of Prince George)As today (Dec. 1) is the National Day of Giving and 'Giving Tuesday,' it’s the perfect time for Mr. PG to kick-off activities aimed at encouraging the spirit of giving this month:
Organizations and non-profits are encouraged to take photos at Mr. PG and post to their social media channels along with information about the fundraising activities they are presenting.
"Since I arrived in Prince George earlier this year, I've been amazed at the fantastic stories that emerge from this community," says Tracey McBride, CEO of Tourism Prince George.
"Mr. PG is an iconic figure and the idea these women had to dress him up in a simple way to demonstrate community pride and draw attention to the needs of the less-fortunate is really moving. These are the stories that make us proud to be residents of Prince George, and in turn make people from outside of Prince George want to visit us."
Posts that are tagged with #mrpg60 may be shared by Mr. PG via stories or posts on his Instagram channel (@therealmrpg) and the SupportPG channels.
Those who donate to local non-profit organizations this month also have a chance to win an exact, human-sized replica of Mr. PG’s scarf, hand-knitted by the same women.
To be eligible, residents simply need to comment with the name of their favourite charities on the posts about Mr. PG and his scarf on City of Prince George, Tourism Prince George, and Mr. PG social media channels. The comments need to be added by 12 p.m. on Dec. 21, with a winner randomly selected that afternoon.
Mr. PG turned 60 years old earlier this year.
He first appeared publicly at a Rotary International conference in May 1960, and subsequently became the most well-known symbol of the community across B.C. and around the world.
He's just over eight metres tall and has been standing at the intersection of Highways 16 and 97 since 1970.
