TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

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M CITY COUNCIL

Parking meters to be removed
By MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff Parking meters will be removed soon from downtown streets. City council voted unanimously Monday night to remove all parking meters and institute a no-charge, twohour time limit for on-street parking, while replacing the two-warning ticket system with a $25 fine. Exactly when that will occur is still to be determined. With council's direction now given, staff will work out the details of implementing the strategy over the coming months. The proposal follows on the completion of a study of downtown transportation and parking during which a consultant had suggested tougher measures to deal with parking violations -- increasing the fine to $30 from the current $20, doing away with the two-ticket grace and replacing the meters with ticket dispensers, one on each block. Three more people will be hired to keep eyes out for violators, but the fine revenue should cover the cost of those new employees, council was told. -- See ONE-WAY on page 2

High gas prices forces change in tourist habits
by MYRISSA KRENZLER Citizen staff With gas prices on the rise, traveling within the province seems to be the trend this summer for many vacationers, according to Tourism Prince George. Manager Michelle Clark said she won't have the exact number of visitors this year until the end of the summer, but there seems to be an increase in the number of people exploring their own province, she said. "I think, generally because there is so much to discover in B.C. and northern British Columbia, (the province) is gaining in popularity as far as an undiscovered sort of new area to checkout," she said. "I think we'll actually see some increased numbers from that." International visitor numbers are on par compared to other years. "We have seen a little bit of a difference in where the travellers are residing from," she said. "There is a slight decrease in the U.S. travellers, but there has been an improvement on the Europe and Australian market. So you're still getting a large portion of out of town guests coming through, but their origins are shifting a little bit." Clark said it's still too early to see how gas prices will have an effect on the season. "Gas prices do play some role, but you have to understand that a lot of people who are coming through this way are on their way to Alaska and have been planning these trips for quite a few years and wouldn't necessarily cancel because of gas prices," she said. -- See DECREASE on page 2

Citizen photo by David Mah

SUMMER PLAY -- Four-year-old Maillee Taylor amused herself by hanging around the monkey bars in the Rotary Playground at Fort George Park Monday morning.

Pro hockey players attract young fans
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Hundreds of kids lined up alongside The Exploration Place Monday to get free T-shirts and autographs from current and former NHL players from the Kings, Flames, Canucks and more. Four Canucks from the days of the original ice-rink C jersey and the stripped V jersey were waiting with pens in hand to sign autographs. There was also Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jason LaBarbera and pro turned Spruce Kings coach Stew Malgunas. Both Prince George men are part of the 5th Annual Commonwealth Cup charity golf tournament today to benefit the children's programming at The Exploration Place and Canuck Place Children's Hospice. The biggest names among the retired players were Dennis Kearns (star defenceman who played all his 10 NHL years in a Canucks uniform as well as twice for Team Canada) and Garry Monahan (noted forward for the Maple Leafs and Canucks as well as broadcasting). Joining them were John Grisdale (250 games with Leafs and Canucks on defence) and Eddie Hatoum (the only Lebanese-born NHLer, former Red Wing and Canuck). Darcy Rota, the former Canucks all-star, who was raised in Prince George, was scheduled to be there as well, but a family emergency delayed his arrival until later in the event. "The organizers have treated us former players royally," said Kearns, who has his own charity golf tournament for kids in the Lower Mainland. "I am doing this for Dan McLaren (Commonwealth Financial president and Exploration Place board member) whom I met at a conference in April and he was talking to me about this. I wanted to help so I pulled in some of my friends." "It was interesting to see all the players I've never heard of before, and I got my Jason LaBarbera card signed," said 12-year-old Brad Gero. "I wish I had a card of Stew Malgunas, it was nice to meet him," "I was excited to meet them because they played on live TV," said Gillian Lakey, who was just as excited as her 12-year-old big brother Garrett, who brought along his Team Canada jersey to get signed. "I've seen Jason LaBarbera play on TV, I've seen Stew at (Cougars and Spruce Kings) games, my dad told me all about the other players," said Garrett. Intentions were expressed by the organizers to make the meet and greet an annual event in Prince George, which would please Alexander Johnston, 11, Victoria Johnston, 9, and Shayne Hopwood, 11. All play minor hockey and were grinning ear to ear as they got close to players they admire. "They might not be in the NHL now, but still it's pretty important; it's cool to get to meet so many great players," said one, with agreement from the others. -- See GOLF on page 2

Citizen photo by David Mah

Hailea Hilton, 12, has her shirt signed by Los Angeles Kings goalie Jason LaBarbera at The Exploration Place where a group of National Hockey League alumni gathered for the fifth annual Commonwealth Cup kickoff.

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . 21 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Business. . . .. . . . . . . . . 14-16 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . 2,3,5,17 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 23-27 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 20 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,19

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