Our Christmas season kicked off in snowy full colour on Nov. 27 when Canada Games Plaza came alive with activity.
Hundreds gathered for the Civic Light Up and Festival of Trees. These events were not only well-attended but showcased the plaza’s potential as a vibrant, family-friendly venue. The clean, wholesome winter atmosphere drew people from all walks of life, highlighting the community’s desire for such spaces where families can come together for fun and celebration.
For years, the plaza sat underutilized, often overlooked as a venue for large-scale gatherings. However, the removal of the eyesore that was the bleachers — for a long time a gathering spot for street people — has opened up the space for more community-focused uses. In their place is a new open-air container market and a year-round skating rink, transforming the area.
Beyond markets and ice skating, there’s an opportunity to host live concerts, festivals and other celebrations. The Canada Games Plaza is equipped with updated landscaping, seating and lighting, making it an ideal venue for a variety of community events. It’s also bookable for any organization looking to host an event, but to truly make the plaza thrive, we need to see more events from organizations that are not directly connected to city hall.
Community groups have the potential to create an even more community-focused environment at the plaza. The library, conveniently right there, is in a prime position to host events, while Studio 2880 and the PG Playhouse, though farther away, could also play a role in filling the space with cultural activities. Bringing together city-linked nonprofits and independent organizations to use the plaza would create a thriving cultural hub, attracting people year-round.
One way to make this happen is by following the principles laid out in the citizen-designed Civic Core Plan, which we believe is the strongest proposal for the future of the area.
This plan, developed by a group of concerned local people, advocates for turning the plaza into a central gathering place that could help define the city’s future. Prince George clearly has a need — and a desire, as evidenced by the recent turnout—for a central space where people can gather safely and enjoy cultural events.
That means bringing Studio 2880 and PG Playhouse to the plaza, renovating the Civic Centre and replacing the Kopar Memorial Arena with a modern new sports and entertainment venue.
Canada Games Plaza could become the cultural heart of Prince George, as was the plan when it was built 30-odd years ago. And who knows? There might even be room for some version of Mr. PG down there.
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