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CITIZEN
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
The order was lifted by provincial experts, who conducted an aerial assessment and observed that river levels were dropping as water found a path through or around ice jams. Due to dropping flows and reduced runoff, officials said the ice jams are stable and not expected to move. Other good news is that large areas of bare ground showing above Hixon indicates significant snow melt over the past week, resulting in reduced additional runoff. "The people of Hixon were fantastic through all this," said Sinclair. "Despite being out of their homes, they remained supportive of officials and each other." Sinclair said those who were not affected by the threat supplied food and helped out wherever possible. "But it was particularly nice to see the kids' faces light up when they were told they could go back to the security of their homes," said Sinclair. Telus installed a second phone line at the Hixon Volunteer Fire Department hall on Friday. The department had been waiting since Monday for an extra line.

PRINCE GEORGE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2005

80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 57 CENTS A DAY)

Flood risk reduced in Hixon
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff Residents of 50 homes in Hixon happily returned to their own beds Thursday night after a mandatory evacuation order due to flooding and huge ice jams was lifted. However, officials advised them to remain vigilant. "They may have to leave again if Naver Creek changes and waters rise," said Finlay Sinclair, communications manager with the Fraser-Fort George Regional District. Fire chief Niels Nielsen had requested the phone to help deal with the emergency flood situation, but was told it could take until next Wednesday to get it. Telus admitted the mistake on Thursday, and installed the extra line on Friday. Nielsen said the emergency operation was winding down Friday morning, but the monitoring of ponding water levels, ice and flow conditions would continue on a daily basis. If anything changes, emergency operations would be up and running quickly, Nielsen said.

Panhandling law blasted
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff Prince George city councillor Murry Krause, who has had a long-time interest in downtown social issues, is aghast that "aggressive" panhandlers face fines and in rare cases jail under new penalties that took force this week. The fines ranging from $86 to $115, to be issued by police as tickets similar to traffic offences, are the finishing touches of the Liberal government's Safe Streets Act and amended Trespass Act. The Safe Streets Act became law last fall, but the penalty structure was not included until Thursday. Krause, who was not in favour of the original legislation, said the provincial government has gone too far. "We should be looking for real, solid solutions, not continue to pick on the poor," said Krause, who is a member of Prince George's Partners for a Healthy Downtown. "The legislation is one thing, but the fines carries that absurdity just that much farther because where on earth are these people supposed to come up with the money. If you're poor today, you're probably poor tomorrow." He said the province would be better to address the underlying issues of poverty and mental health, two reasons people end up on the street. Krause doesn't think the issue of panhandling is much different in Prince George than in other communities of similar size like Kamloops and Nanaimo, or even bigger centres like Vancouver. Krause, who has worked in downtown Prince George for many years, says he is only occasionally panhandled. When he has declined to give money, he has never been harassed. Krause questioned how "aggressive" panhandling will be determined, and added he doesn't believe the police will want to use their resources on the new rules on panhandling. "I personally would like to see the RCMP dealing with organized crime and dealing with other serious crime in our community, as opposed to this," he said. B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant has said the law will serve as a deterrent to people who aggressively panhandle for money. The law also effectively keeps so-called squeegee kids from approaching vehicles on roadways and asking for money to wash their windows, he said. British Columbians don't want to fine or jail panhandlers, but they want to feel safe in their communities as they go about their daily lives, Plant said. He said the law has little sympathy for people who are ticketed who don't have the money to pay the fine. "Not having money has never been an excuse for breaking the law," Plant said.

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

RACING INTO SPRING -- Troy Odiorne, middle left, and Tim Patterson, middle right, attracted some curious onlookers Friday with their radio-controlled cars under sunny skies in a green, spring-like Fort George Park.

Catholics urged to oppose same-sex marriages
VANCOUVER (CP) -- B.C. Catholics will be urged by their pastors Sunday to write their MPs telling them that same-sex marriage is not a human rights issue and expressing concerns about its possible legalization. "Some within society, supported by judges and legislators, are trying to turn the marriage debate into a human rights issue," writes Vancouver Archbishop Raymond Roussin in a three-page pastoral letter to be read from the diocese's pulpits and sent out on Friday. "But that is not what marriage is about. As a social institution, marriage is concerned with the common good, not individual rights." Roussin goes on to suggest parishioners "share these points" with their MPs. Similar letters calling on Catholics to become politically involved to defeat any legislation legalizing same-sex marriage have been issued this month by Calgary's bishop and by the primate of Canada's Catholic church. The priests' actions have prompted Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew to suggest the church should stay out of politics. The same-sex marriage bill is expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes sitting next week. Paul Schratz, spokesman for Roussin, said the church has every right to be involved in the matter. "That includes the people in the pews as well. We're urging them to contact their MPs. We're not telling them what to say but we are encouraging them to speak out," he said. "We want to make sure that Catholics and people that are concerned about where this is headed are heard." Roussin's letter stresses that Catholics must hold to the belief that the definition of marriage is that of an institution "whose natural purpose is the good of the couple and the procreation and education of children."

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Doctor donates $3M to UNBC
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff A B.C. biotechnology leader who lives in Vancouver -- but who has close connections to Prince George -- has donated $3 million to UNBC to expand medical research and education. Dr. Donald Rix, who spent 30 years at work in the Victoria Medical Building laboratory and serves on the UNBC board of governors, is now the namesake of the new medical building at UNBC. In response to his contribution, UNBC has named the new medical centre the Dr. Donald Rix Northern Health Sciences Centre. When the donation, announced by UNBC Chancellor Peter Bentley, is matched by other pledged funding it will total about $8 million. Rix worked in partnership with Pat Carson from 1972 at the Victoria Medical lab, and during that time closely watched health care here go through "dramatic changes," he said. The doctors would come and go, but there was little to entice them in the way of research, Rix said. He sees the province's move to extend the UBC medical school to Prince George and Victoria as "a courageous decision." "I'm passionate about the expansion of the (UNBC) medical school, and I'm delighted that my family can contribute money for the expansion, and I hope others will follow," Rix told a standingroom-only gathering in a lecture hall of the medical building. "Health research will mean better health care for the North and Prince George." A plaque bearing the new name of the medical building was unveiled. Jago described Rix as "a thoughtful philanthropist who has supported many education, health and arts projects throughout the province. "His contribution will help us build health research capacity here that will benefit all northerners and help position UNBC as a national leader in rural and aboriginal health." Rix, who has active relationships with all of B.C.'s universities and BCIT, is the chairman of MDS Metro Laboratory Services and is a founder of Cantest Ltd., which conducts air quality, soil testing and analysis of pesticides in foods. He is director of Genome B.C., a director of the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation and member of both the B.C. Council and the Premier's Technology Council. During its 10-year history, UNBC has received several significant donations from individuals. In 1997, William Dow Ferry of Prince George donated $1.1 million toward a student endowment award fund, and in 2000, Slocan Forest Products chair Ike Barber contributed $500,000 to build the I.K. Barber Forestry Lab. In 2001, Peter Bentley gave a personal donation of $1.2 million to construct the Bentley Centre, a 150-foot-long area connecting Student Services Street to the laboratories and health sciences centre.

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . .21 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Business . . . . . . . . . . . .36-38 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,15 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .23-27 Comics . . . . . . . . . . .18,39,40 Coming Events . . . . . . . .2,17 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . .19 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-14 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,9

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

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Dr. Donald Rix is joined by Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong via video conference link as he announces his $3 million donation to UNBC.

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