High today: 22 Low tonight: 7 Details page 2 CITIZEN Serving the Central Interior since 1916 PRINCE GEORGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2003 80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 54 CENTS A DAY) City dials up new call centre Synovate bringing 225 jobs by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff Ending several months of negotiation and speculation, a second call centre is coming to the city, Initiatives Prince George president Gerry Offet confirmed Wednesday. As had been expected since the possibility was first made public in February, Offet announced that by the end of this year, Synovate, a market-research firm based in Arlington Hills, Ill., will open a 150-seat operation at Third and Brunswick, sharing the building with Crazy Willy's. The centre will initially employ as many as 225 people, mostly on a parttime basis, generating a yearly payroll of $3 to $4 million. It won't singlehandedly revive a struggling local economy, but it will help, Offet said. "This is the sort of thing you have to attack in little bites, and every few hundred jobs count and assists in our task of bringing full employment or certainly much-reduced unemployment to the Prince George area." Synovate had wanted to be in the building by Nov. 1, but Dec. 1 is more likely, Offet said, because of the timeline and the number of tradespeople currently available. Prior to Synovate moving in, the building's owner, Novak Brothers Contracting Ltd., will spend about $400,000 renovating about 6,000 of the 24,000-square-foot building, including installation of an elevator. Synovate will spend a further $200,000 on improvements. Once completed, Synovate will occupy about two-thirds of the current warehouse section at Crazy Willy's, with a separate entrance onto Brunswick Street. Between space at the back of the building -- in December city council approved a lane closure off Fourth Avenue between Brunswick and Victoria Streets -- and arrangements for spots in other lots and parkades, Offet said parking has been addressed. The city may also adjust bus service to accommodate employees. Synovate will pay $202,785 over five years under the lease agreement, or $6.60 per square foot each year, with a provision allowing the company to pull Citizen staff photo Announcing a new call centre for the city Wednesday were, from left, City Centre Ventures chair Lorne Calder, city councillor Cliff Dezell and Initiatives Prince George president Gerry Offet. out after two and a half years, "largely if the availability of employees isn't exactly the way they want them." However, Synovate would still have to pay the remaining $101,000 to the landlord. As the guarantor, the city could end up on the hook if Synovate elected not to pay up, but Offet said that's unlikely. Offet said the city would end up with as much as $500,000 in assets if Synovate reneged. On the other hand, if the venture works out, Synovate has an option to renew the lease for up to 15 years and to expand its operation to cover the entire building if desired. The venture will actually be operated through Synovate's Canadian subsidiary, Offet said. In turn, Synovate is the market research arm of Aegis Group PLC, one of the world's largest public relations firms. Employees will be calling consumers and businesses to get customer feedback on products and services client companies are providing. "It's an outbound call centre but it's not an outbound call centre in the same nature as LiveBridge in that they're not selling products to the people they're calling," Offet said of Synovate. "They're simply asking them if they would be prepared to participate in a survey." The hours will be late afternoon and early evening shifts of four to six hours, and at full capacity about 200 people will be employed in addition to 20-25 management and administrative positions. -- See related story on page 3 Photo by David Mah Jeannine Woodhouse and puppy Ashes pose in front of empty kennels that will soon be filled with dogs from shelters in southern B.C. SPCA ready to help with forest fire effort by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff In order to free up animal shelter space for displaced animals in the fire-stricken Kamloops area, the Prince George SPCA is preparing to house a number of Nordic breed dogs from shelters in the south. Jeannine Woodhouse, branch manger, explained that overflowing animal shelters in Kelowna, Vernon and Vancouver are sending animals out in order to free up space for hundreds of displaced and rescued animals from fire areas like Falkland, McLure-Barriere and north of Kamloops. "So far, 400 cats and dogs and 200 livestock have been rescued or taken in for owners who can't care for them at this time," Woodhouse said. "The Nordic breed dogs are coming to us because they are northern-type animals," said Woodhouse, who doesn't know yet how many dogs will be arriving. The local SPCA is receiving calls from the public who want to help, Woodhouse said. "We've set up a provincial transport fund to help with the air fare and rental of cargo vans to transfer the animals around the province." The Prince George Hotel is holding an SPCA Fire Rescue dance on Aug. 16 to raise money for the transport fund, "and that's a great way to help," Woodhouse said. People can also make cash donations at the shelter on Lansdowne Road or by credit card over the phone at 5625511. "One woman has donated three airline-approved flight kennels, and that's a wonderful donation," said Woodhouse, explaining some pet owners collect several sizes of kennels as pets outgrow them. "Flight kennels are really needed at this time, and they will be used repeatedly throughout the province." A special team of SPCA provincial constables are combing through the burn areas to seek out animals who have been left behind or have become lost. Salvation Army put on standby Prince George Salvation Army personnel and an emergency vehicle are on standby and ready to assist in the fire-ravaged areas in B.C., Dennis Nore, family services director, said Wednesday. "The last I heard, about 200 Salvation Army people had been called in to help, and Prince George is on alert," Nore said. "We have two people on call to work in the Salvation Army staffing bureau in Kamloops where they keep track of volunteers and send emergency vehicles on assignments." Canadian Red Cross personnel in Prince George are on standby to provide relief for existing efforts in the Kamloops area and to respond should an evacuation occur as a result of the Chilko Lake fire, southwest of Williams Lake, said Christine Finnerty, community outreach co-ordinator. Red Cross volunteers are providing family reunification service for evacuations. "The immediate needs of evacuees are being met by response agencies. However, we anticipate there will be long-term recovery needs not covered by government assistance or insurance once an assessment is conducted to determine the needs of individual families." People who want to contribute to the recovery needs can donate money at the Red Cross office, 1399 Sixth Ave., Salvation Army, 835 Third Ave., or any Scotiabank branch. -- See related stories on pages 5 and 6 PGX opens today with Seniors' Day -- See story on page 3 sponsibility and beautification through community participation and the challenge of a friendly competition. National beautification programs have flourished in Europe for decades, and were the inspiration for the Communities in Bloom initiative, she said. It began in 1995 with 29 Canadian communities and has grown to include hundreds of participating communities in the provincial and national programs. INDEX Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . .17 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Business . . . . . . . . . . . .22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . .3,5,6,13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .18-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . .2 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . .17 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,15 Communities in Bloom judges assess city by PAUL STRICKLAND Citizen staff Judges are in Prince George today to evaluate local gardens, flower baskets and commercial landscaping for the 2003 B.C. Communities in Bloom competition. "This is the first time Prince George has entered the provincial Communities in Bloom contest," said Shirley Gratton, chair of Prince George in Bloom. "The Prince George in Bloom task force is looking forward to touring the judges and showcasing the very best that our city has to offer." The judges are Randy Greenizan of Langley, who sits on the advisory committee for Kwantlen University College and is a director of the B.C. Horticultural Centre, and Kathy Reinheimer, landscape co-ordinator for Surrey parks. Three sectors of the city will be judged -- private gardens, commercial property, and the municipal and institutional sector. These three sectors will be judged on floral displays, tidiness, environmental effort, community involvement, urban forestry, heritage, landscaped areas and turf and open spaces. "They have a full day in Prince George today, includ- Schedule for visiting judges The provincial Communities in Bloom judges have a full day touring Prince George. Highlights include: 9 a.m. -- Helicopter tour from the airport. 10:15 a.m. -- View community gardens. 10:55 a.m. -- View flower gardens at Connaught Hill Park. 11:30 a.m. -- University of Northern B.C. 2 p.m. -- Clapperton Park. 2:30 p.m. -- Nechako Fraser Resource Centre. 3:15 p.m. -- Carriage tour of Fort George Park from Dogwood Street to Exploration Place. 4 p.m. -- Tour of REAPS garden. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten 0 58307 00100 8 Communities in Bloom judges are in the city to look at flowers and plants like those seen here on Third Avenue and George Street downtown. ing a helicopter tour and a carriage ride through Fort George Park," Gratton said. Communities in Bloom is a non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental re- BOATS SUPER SALE AT NR MOTORS Made with quality workmanship, award winning design and exceptional value, campion is your boat of choice. 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