An early prototype of Mr. PG has come out of hiding thanks to Steve Sintich.
The cheeky grin, the protruding ears, the traditional stance of one foot on a stump, is a very familiar image.
And Sintich, a loyal Prince George community member, is his biggest fan and said this city wouldn’t be what it is today without Mr. PG.
Recent proof of his point came as Mr. PG was named the Greatest Canadian Landmark in an inaugural contest held by Municipal World this month. He took top spot out of 76 landmarks from across the country.
Sintich believes the prototype he has of Mr. PG was created in the late 50s or early 60s.
Sintich discovered the grinning icon at the School District 57 board office in 1976 when he was served as a trustee.
“I guess at the time somebody didn’t think he was very important or anything so I said I’d take him,” Sintich said. “And he’s been in my possession ever since then.”
Sintich sat on the Chamber of Commerce board and helped with the promotion of Mr. PG throughout the years, including as a member of city council beginning in 1980.
Sintich, now 85, remains steadfast in his devotion to Mr. PG.
“They wanted to get rid of him,” Sintich recalled with a disbelieving shake of his head.
“I was born and raised in Prince George and have always been loyal. I am really upset they are considering moving Mr. PG away from the highway.”
Sintich said about 50 years ago the city promised to put in a southern bypass where Boundary Road is now located and if the city decides to move Mr. PG from the junction of Highway 16 and 97, he should at least be moved up there and not to the downtown core.
“We've got to get out of the bowl area,” Sintich said.
“Growth to Prince George will come when we bring industry into the area because that’s where the employment growth will come from – and industry can be anything and everything. We are at the crossroads to everything in the province.”
Sintich said he is not pleased that the signs to welcome people into the city don’t have Mr. PG on them.
“It’s very simple either Mr. PG leads the way to make Prince George grow or they might as well junk him,” Sintich said.
“The welcome signs to Prince George are a monument to a dead city.”
For now Sintich said he will keep his prototype of Mr. PG safe as his fate is yet to be determined.
