FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prince George, BC – Former City Councillor Murry Krause was awarded Prince George’s Freedom of the City at the March 27 Council meeting. The Freedom of the City is the highest honour a municipality can bestow on a distinguished person or unit of the Canadian Armed Forces (or another nation).
Krause’s contributions to civil society reach back to the 1970s. He first began an active role in the community when he opened a youth hostel on 2nd Avenue in 1972. He worked many years as chairperson for United Way and went on to serve on Council for 23 years where he chaired a multitude of committees. The Governor General of Canada recognised Krause’s decades-long spirit of social work by awarding him a Sovereign Medal for Volunteers in 2019.
Krause served on City Council 1996 to 1999 and again from 2000 to 2022 and was involved in the following committees:
- Poverty Reduction Committee, Chair.
- Homelessness and Affordable Housing Committee, Chair.
- Healthy City Framework Committee, Chair.
- 100th Anniversary Committee, Chair.
- Finance and Audit Committee, Chair.
- Intercultural Committee, Chair.
- Treaty Advisory Committee.
He also served with other bodies such as the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George as a municipal director, the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the Northern Central Local Government Association as president, and as a member of the Provincial Forum on Poverty Reduction. Krause made significant contributions on behalf of indigenous peoples. He was instrumental in renaming Fort George Park to Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and served as 22 years as executive director of the Central Interior Native Health Society.
The Community Charter includes provisions under section 158 that allow a Council to grant the award to a deserving recipient. In addition to Charter-defined benefits like eligibility to vote in an election for mayor or councillor and the ability to stand for election in the municipality (if the person is a Canadian citizen), the Freedom of the City policy passed by Council in 2005 also provides the following:
- Free parking at a parking space controlled by a parking meter up to the maximum time permitted by the meter and free parking at City lots and parkades where parking is available on a short-term basis.
- The privilege of being invited to special City Council functions like volunteer appreciation dinners and inaugural Council meetings.
- A photograph of the recipient engraved with the individual’s name and status will be displayed permanently in a prominent location at City Hall.
The Freedom of the City is a designation that is infrequently awarded and only with Council’s full support. The award is reflective of exceptional merit and public contribution.
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Media contact
Mike Lee, senior communications advisor
City of Prince George
Mobile: 778-349-1386
Email: media@princegeorge.ca