Getting stocked for emergency /24

Red Wings lifting Yzerman's jersey to rafters tonight /9

B.C. residents pot-smoking rebels /5
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007

CEOs make average wage in two days /7
$1.00 (HOME DELIVERED: 61 CENTS A DAY)

Slaughterhouse ready to open
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Kawano Farms is about to become the only certified abattoir in northern B.C. but do-it-yourself slaughterhouses could become part of the ranching landscape before long. In a matter of days the paperwork is scheduled to clear, making Prince George's Kawano Farms the only government certified slaughterhouse in the northern half of the province approved for killing livestock for consumer meat products. There are lots of others who can kill the animals people plan to eat for t hemselves, as long as they don't sell it to others. Corky Evans, the provincial NDP Agriculture Critic expressed a concern that a b l a c k m a rket for meat may develop out of a sheer lack of facilities. Fa r m e r s would be forced to break the law and sell t heir meat without certification because they couldn't have their livestock killed and processed at an approved facility. "We are up to about 60 applications now, from virtually every part of the province including three mobile abattoirs, so it looks like we are going to be able to ensure coverage throughout the province," Bell told the Citizen. "Places like Atlin and the Queen Charlottes concern me still, but someone that has some ingenuity, and most of our ranchers do, could build their own at a reasonable price." Bell said he and others in the indus-

"We think we have a reasonable set of criteria for small-scale abattoirs a rancher can build on their own spread."

try are considering a set of streamlined regulations that would allow ranchers to construct certified kill spaces right on their own farms so they can service customers at the farm gate without the hassle of travelling to stationary abattoirs. "We think we have a reasonable set of criteria for small-scale abattoirs a ranc her can build on t heir own spread," Bell said. "You would have to have a clean, sanitary place to actually slaughter the animal with proper hand washing facilities, so it won't be a million dollar building to meet these requirements. You would need a concrete floor, plywood walls properly painted and, if it is done at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, it wouldn't necessarily need to be refrigerated. There would have to be a pre- and postmortem inspection done by a Ministry of Health inspector -- those are free of charge until 2012 -- so the consumer can still know all was done in a safe and sanitary manner, and ranchers can still handle their sales at the gate they want to do." Bell said he expects the abattoir application process to be finished by the end of winter with all facilities that pass inspection able to be open for the Sept. 30 deadline the government has set for the end of uncertified commercial meat sales. That deadline was set once and given an extension, but Bell now insists "there will be no more extensions."

Photo by Frank Peebles

Connor Nicholas Freeman was Prince George's 2007 New Year's baby. The tyke arrived at Prince George Regional Hospital at 6:20 a.m. Monday to a warm greeting from his mom Laura and dad Cory.

New Year's tot right on time
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff The first baby born in Prince George this year is Connor Nicholas Freeman, who came into the world at 6:20 a.m. New Year's day. His mom Laura, dad Cory and big brother Alexander (two and a half years old) were happy with a smooth delivery at Prince George Regional Hospital under the direction of midwife Karen Gerlach. "This was my due date but Alex was two weeks overdue so we didn't hold our breath," said Laura. "I'm just glad everything went well. It was great. It was intense, but it was good." Baby Connor was 10 pounds, 14.5 ounces at birth, and measured 22 inches. There are about 100 babies a month born in Prince George, so Cory said they hadn't really given much thought about being the New Year's baby until they were in the midst of excitement that didn't really give them much time for contemplating it. "When we got here they said we were the only ones here," said Cory. "We thought that was a bit strange. No one else at all?" Welcome Wagon host Laurie Hooker was there on New Year's Day to present the newly expanded family with a large care package of gifts for being the city's first child of the year. The baskets included everything from books to baby hygiene items to gift certificates for food to a scholarship plan and more. For the proud parents, who just moved to Vanderhoof about 18 months ago, it was a joy to bring Connor into the world at PGRH. "I think both our families were pretty much all born here in this hospital," said Laura.

HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS
Inside today's Citizen is a 20page photographic history of Prince George -- History Through the Lens. Former Citizen photographer Dave Milne searched more than 100,000 images going back to the birth of The Citizen in 1916, and narrowed it down to more than 100 newsworthy and noteworthy local scenes and events.

Polar bear dip attracts dozens
The event is far from a gratuitous numbing of by FRANK PEEBLES the mind and all body functions, however. Citizen staff Corporate sponsors, pledges and entry fees The polar bear swims in Toronto and Vancouver were not preceded by the sound of chain- are gathered to help kids with financial need atsaws. Ice did not have to be cleaved in Pitts- tend the bible camp, a favourite destination for burgh, New York or Boston where other famous youth in the area each summer. Bailey estimated they drew in about $3,000 New Year's Day dips took place. Few on the continent leapt into waters as deserving of the from the polar bear dip this year, to offset the $17,000 in bursaries they gave last year so 125 term "polar bear" as at Ness Lake. For the sixth year in a row, Ness Lake Bible kids could attend who would not otherwise be Camp sank to unholy depths by offering a hole able. At the end of it all, the two Ness Lake Volunin the slab of ice over their snowpiled pond, and for the sixth consecutive year, people ac- teer Fire Department personnel standing at the water's edge to haul each dipper safely out decepted the challenge and dove in. "I think it was the biggest we've had," said cided to share in the chill. Both Carolyn Shobar and Gerron Martin dove Paul Bailey, bible camp manager. "It was over in as the symbolic close to the 2007 60 people, and it was insane. Most of polar bear dip. them were insane, I think." "This is fun," they shouted as they Decked out in the bleu, rouge, et paddled around in the subzero blanc of his beloved Montreal Canadiwaves. "What's the problem? Why ens, Bailey was among the brain pool did you all leave so fast?" who ignored the season and plunged While some were costumed in suinto the Ness waters. per hero outfits or dressed in drag "I was here two years ago with my for the spectacle, the firefighters uncle," said Paul Drieduile, visiting -- Ness Lake were wrapped head to toe in toasty from The Netherlands. Bible Camp safety suits. "I thought they were crazy. This manager Paul They might have been the only time I thought I'd try it." He became Bailey ones who stayed in the ice bath an honorary northern Canadian flying longer than the split second it took his national colours, the Dutch flag most human beings and every muscle in their painted on his chest. A girl from France also made it an interna- bodies (and a lot of voices, too) screaming in tional event this year. Co-organizer Dave Hor- mock terror. Bailey said each year the event grows and by ton made it six straight years, hitting the water feet first with his No. 1 finger pointed at the sky. the time its 10th anniversary arrives on New Fe l l ow b i b l e c a mp e mp l oye e D a n i e l l e Year's Day, 2011 he hopes it is a beloved and Poznikoff didn't even take off her kitchen apron anticipated moment of northern hardiness to start off the community's year. when she piled in for the first time. For some participants it is done for a kind of Another rookie, Mike Burke, decided the frigid shock was unavoidable so why not go for renewal, for others it means breaking through a style? He chose to belly flop for his first icy en- personal barrier, while for some it is a deliciously juvenile dare. Whatever the motivation, trance. "One guy went in three times," Bailey said. said Bailey, it is a worthy cause and a unique "William Zhang went in twice last year; his goal way to spend the first day of the year. -- See more photos on page 13 is four times next year."

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"Most of them were insane, I think."

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . 15 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City, B.C. . . . . . . 3,5,13,15,23 Classifi ed . . . . . . . . . . .19-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17,18 Coming Events . . . . . . . . . .15 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . .17,18 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . .16 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,22

Citizen photo by Chuck Nisbett

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Dave Horton, one of the organizers of the sixth annual New Year's Day polar bear dip at Ness Lake, is wired after emerging from the frigid water.

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