“According to a newly released happiness-index of Canadian cities, Prince George made the list of the 10 happiest cities in the province and 56th happiest city in the country,” the Citizen reports. It’s one of those gimmicky rankings put out by a company drumming up market awareness of its website using some metrics it chooses, like income spent on real estate on commute times. 56 is fine. My happiness went up when I saw this photo from a city bylaw worker who spotted a beaver walking around downtown. If not the happiest, perhaps we can be the most stereotypical city in Canada. Not everyone was happy, though — a few people in the comments decided to use the post as a chance to air out grievances about development in the city enroaching on green space used by wildlife like beavers which, fair enough — though if anyone can make people think twice about their dominance over nature, it’s beavers.

Remember, this is the hottest summer of your life

I think about this Simpsons meme a lot.

I also think about this variation of it.

Which is to say, I don’t love that we’re headed for multiple days of 32 C in the middle of May. I have nothing more to say about this. We know the underlying reasons for this. Summer is now a weird mix of enjoying warm weather and feeling in the back of my mind that this isn’t good. At least it’s not supposed to be a heat dome, this time. This makes me less happy.

Loan repayments and the correct spelling of Masich

First, apologies for mispelling Masich Place in yesterday’s blurb on the city deciding not to give a loan to the Kodiaks football club. It was pointed out to me by Bill Masich who also writes:

Be prepared

Whic is as good a time as any to remind you that emergency alert systems int he province are going to be tested today at 1:55 PM. Your phone should go off then.

You can also read these tips and sign up for local emergency alerts from the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

Quick news:

• Prince George Fire Centre issues open burning ban.

• Coastal GasLink has been hit with its second stop-work order in just over a week after again polluting sensitive waterways, the Green Party says if a restaurant had this many violations it would be shut down.

• Prince George riders upset by destruction of Pidherny bike trails.

• Northern B.C. projected to hit its lowest home sale mark in two decades.

• The Housing Awards of Excellence are coming up.

• This event in June looks great.

• The CN Centre is making some sort of announcement today.

• “A long-running dispute between the City of Prince George and a local gravel miner remains before the court with what appears to be one last loose end getting closer to being tied up.”

• Koops Bike Shop celebrates 50 years.

• Council recaps from other outlets:

  • Prince George council denies seniors housing complex proposal; Switch from student to seniors housing at 4500 Ospika denied by council again.

  • Police presence boosted downtown as part of enhanced security measures (including comments from Tim Bennett disagreeing with linking homelessness and repeat offenders); Prince George to move homeless to Moccasin Flats, remove Millennium Park encampment; Prince George city council approves plan to remove Millennium Park encampment; Council votes to take action on Millenium Park; Parks and Open Spaces Bylaw amendments approved, city to dismantle Millennium Park encampment.

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