2021 Year in Review

Prince George, BC - The year 2021 was arduous in many ways for residents of Prince George and British Columbia. The continuing pandemic, the “heat dome,” wide-spread forest fires, the discovery of unmarked graves at a former Kamloops residential school, catastrophic flooding, and periods of extreme cold were all high-profile events in 2021.

In spite of these challenges, the City achieved many great things:

• The City moved past the $1 Billion mark in building permit values in the past five years.
• Fire Hall #1 opened to improve community fire protection.
• Council approved a 0% tax increase for 2021, citing hardship for citizens during Covid-19 Pandemic.
• With $2 Million in provincial and federal grants, the Community Safety Hub opened to encourage collaboration of service agencies to improve the health and safety of the unsheltered homeless while addressing related community impacts.
• Construction started on a new downtown childcare centre to be operated by the YMCA.
• Prince George was announced a host of the Women’s World Cup of Curling in 2022.
• The City, BC Housing, and Northern Health announced a supportive home project on 1^st Ave for homeless and vulnerable people.
• The City officially opened new amenities and upgrades for seniors at Ron Brent Park.
• The City launched new Hotspot Parking app as a new, more convenient way for citizens to pay for off-street parking.

In the spirit of the season, please join the City of Prince George on a walk through the year that was 2021:

January

• New Fire Hall #1 opens to improve community fire protection.
• City announces total value of building permits in 2020 nearly break all-time record despite pandemic - multi-family construction soaring in Prince George.
• Council approves recommendations from Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community to improve safety, security and cleanliness in the downtown area, including new bylaw officers dedicated to the downtown.

February

• Council approves 0% tax increase for 2021, cites hardship for citizens during Covid-19 Pandemic
• Council votes to permanently close the Four Seasons Leisure Pool. The closure is projected to result in annual operating savings of roughly $150,000 to $200,000.
• City launches poverty reduction survey to collect community feedback on how to reduce poverty in the community.

March

• City waives fees for restaurants to open temporary street patios in an effort to help local restaurants, cafes, and pubs as they transition to outdoor food services due to the pandemic.
• The Mausoleum Expansion project at Memorial Park Cemetery opens to the public. The redeveloped Mausoleum included the addition of a new 1200 square foot building onto the existing facility, including 900 new glass and marble front niches.
• City, BC Housing, and Northern Health announce supportive home project on 1^st Ave for homeless and vulnerable people.
• City supports Northern Health’s Covid-19 vaccination efforts through a leasing agreement for the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre to serve as the Covid-19 mass vaccination site in Prince George.

April

• Upgraded Masich Place Stadium opens for season weeks ahead of natural grass fields.
• Community Safety Hub opens to improve the health and safety of the unsheltered homeless while addressing related community impacts.
• Construction starts on YMCA's new downtown childcare centre.
• Council approves review of City capital project management processes.
• City celebrates one-year anniversary of SupportPG, a joint initiative with Tourism PG and the PG Chamber of Commerce to support and encourage businesses affected by the Pandemic.

May

• Nomination Committee for the 2022 BC Summer Games officially appoints the 2022 BC Summer Games’ Board of Directors, which will be responsible for organizing the Games.
• Seasonal flooding prompts park and trail closures.
• City receives Community Leadership Awards for economic development (Titans’ Den) and social responsibility (Community Safety Hub).

June

• City releases independent legal review of the underground parkade
• City issues evacuation alert, state of local emergency due to high risk of flooding from the Fraser River near Paddlewheel Park.
• Masich Place Stadium named Outstanding Stadium by Recreation Facilities Association of British Columbia.
• Council votes to approve a funding request from the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club to provide financial support of up to $250,000 towards hosting the 2024 Para Biathlon World Championships and World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup Finals.
• City Council approves funding for a temporary repair operation on the Prince George Playhouse’s existing façade. Council also approves funding for upgrade the theatrical rigging components in the Playhouse to current safety standards.
• New crosswalk installed at Tyner Boulevard at Baker Road to improve traffic safety.
• Council meetings reopen to public in accordance with BC Restart Plan.

July

• Council selects Walter Babicz as City Manager.
• One Year Out event held to mark one year until start of BC Summer Games in PG.
• Construction begins on project to improve access and amenities at Shane Lake in Forests for the World
• Prince George announced as host of Women’s World Cup of Curling in 2022.

August

• $2 Million in Provincial and Federal Government funding announced for the City of Prince George’s Community Safety Hub.
• City officially opens new amenities and upgrades for seniors at Ron Brent Park.
• City announces it is simplifying application procedure for seasonal patios in order to encourage the continued use and establishment of outdoor patios.
• Council passes a new bylaw that limits the City Manager’s capital project budget amendment authority to 5% of each capital project budget, or $100,000 per project – whichever is lower. 
• City files an application in the BC Supreme Court seeking an order for the safe and orderly transition of the occupants at the encampments on George Street and Lower Patricia Boulevard.
• Council approves Safe Streets Bylaw to improve health, security, and cleanliness downtown.

September

• City launches new Hotspot Parking app as new, more convenient way for citizens to pay for off-street parking.
• City announces it will officially observe the newly created National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
• City launches Housing Needs Assessment to collect important information about demographics, housing supply, and future housing needs to help prepare for future housing development and meet community needs.
• City crews improve traffic safety on 15^th Avenue with two crosswalk enhancements at Irwin Street and Alward Street.
• City launches survey and public education campaign to increase awareness about stormwater management.
• City receives Community Recognition Award for leadership in wood design for the new Fire Hall #1 from Wood WORKS, a national industry-led program of the Canadian Wood Council.
• City installs two new playgrounds at Seymour Park and Carrie Jane Gray Park.

October

• Council adopts new capital project policy to enhance project governance and give Council a better understanding of City project lifecycle management and practices.
• City improves sidewalk accessibility with installation of 24 new accessibility ramps across five sidewalk projects.
• Following Council advocacy, BC Housing and the Attorney General and Ministry Responsible for Housing announces that the Province, through BC Housing, is leasing the Knights Inn in downtown Prince George to provide 44 supportive homes for the city’s unsheltered population.
• Council amends the demolition budget for the Four Seasons Leisure Pool to reflect an additional $2.6 million. An additional $1.3 million is also approved for the demolition of Fire Hall No. 1.
• Council approves the relocation of the Terry Fox Statue at 7th Avenue and Dominion to the site of the new downtown pool to ensure it is not affected by demolition and remediation activities.
• Construction of Prince George’s new downtown aquatic facility passes halfway point.
• Two new outreach coordinators begin working out of Community Safety Hub to help the City’s most vulnerable population.
• City hosts public digital forum called Talktober and released a survey to gather feedback from citizens on their views on municipal services and the 2022 City budget.

November

• City announces vaccine mandate for all City staff and contractors.
• Council approves a draft whistleblower policy for all City employees and elected officials.
• Occupants of George Street encampment move to housing and encampment cleaned up.
• Mayor Lyn Hall joins the mayors of 12 other BC municipalities in co-signing a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ask the federal government to re-evaluate the cost-sharing balance for retroactive pay and ongoing increases resulting from the new RCMP collective agreement.
• City announces further legal actions to remove encampment on Lower Patricia Boulevard.
• Cliff Warner named new fire chief of Prince George fire rescue services; John Iverson to retire in January.
• City outreach workers, bylaw services staff and parks staff supported BC Housing’s efforts to move 24 occupants of the encampment on Lower Patricia Boulevard to supportive indoor housing and out of the cold and elements.

December

• The City launches a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) application for businesses, organizations, and individuals to step forward with an expression of interest in obtaining the naming rights to the City’s new downtown aquatic centre.
• The City releases an independent report from SSA Quantity Surveyors Ltd on the costs of the George Street Parkade constructed in 2019. According to the report, the final construction cost for the parkade was approximately 4% more than the probable and reasonable cost estimated.
• The City begins offering the new Peers Employment and Encouraging Resiliency (PEER) Grant to support and encourage non-profit agencies to hire people who have lived in or are currently living in poverty and may be affected by its associated challenges, such as homelessness.
• Staff with the City of Prince George complete the clearing of roads and sidewalks after the City received about half a metre (50cm) of snow in a week.

You can stay up-to-date with all of the news and events at the City of Prince George in 2022 and beyond by subscribing to the City News and Notices Service and by following the City on social media.

Happy New Year Prince George! We look forward to serving you in 2022!

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