OK, wow. I knew there were a lot of mascots but I had no idea how many. Thanks to everyone who has sent me tips about ones that exist, I’m compiling a list and will do… something? with it.

I watched the last episode of Ted Lasso. I won’t put spoilers here but I will just say I really appreicate everyone who made this show. Season 1 was about perfect, Season 2 was rocky and this one got quite a bit of the way back to where things were originally, IMO, so long as you can check your cyncism which is healthy to do once in a while.

Tomorrow is the Pride parade and celebrations in Prince George. It feels more urgent this year, unfortunately, given the state of things both internationally and right here at home and I think it’s easy to forget just how recent — and, unfortunately, in many places, it seems, tenuous — it is for these celebrations to be able to happen. Here’s a blog post I wrote in 2018:

Prince George Pride

This morning I had a read through the newspaper archives to refresh myself on the history of Pride celebrations in Prince George.

The first Pride parade here was held in 1997. One group that wanted to march was “Changed Pride”, a “Christian” organization for “gays and lesbians who desire to change.” The organizers declined their offer to take part in the parade, and several letters to the editor encouraged them to be more tolerant.

After several years of the mayor refusing to sign any Pride declarations, in 1999 he was away and the acting mayor went ahead and did it in his stead. The next year, the refusal was back and remained in place for several more years.

Prince George wasn’t alone. In Fort St. John, the mayor refused to sign for religious reasons. Terrace did the same. Four councillors in Nanaimo walked out when the mayor made the declaration, and Kelowna’s mayor got the attention of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal for refusing to do the same (in response, he stopped making any declarations).

All of this was in the year 2000. This is not that long ago. I was a teenager and, frankly, this stuff wasn’t on my radar, but as an adult it’s important for me to realize things like the rainbow crosswalk down the street from city hall didn’t come easy to cities like mine.

As a straight dude, it’s easy for me to forget the circumstances for LGBTQ2S+ people, especially those living in smaller places like Prince George and Fort St. John. Tolerance aside, there’s more isolation, there’s fewer opportunities to find romantic partners and there’s the fact that you’re far more likely to have to interact with someone who once held —or still does hold —  less than favourable views towards who you are. It’s challenging in ways I can only barely begin to understand.

Driving back into town yesterday, I smiled to see Mr. PG, our city’s lumberjack mascot, holding a rainbow flag. It made me happy to think I lived in a welcoming community.

But that flag, or the one in front of city hall, or the rainbow crosswalk downtown, are not symbols of this city choosing to be tolerant. They’re symbols of the people who refused to let it off the hook for being intolerant, and demanded better.

They — you — made the rest of better. And I thank you for that.

Hi, it’s me in 2023 again. I wanted to share this because it’s good to remember that mainstream political acceptance of Pride was something earned, not something given, I think, because we are in many ways looking at somewhat similar circumstances. There is a very targeted campaign to make brands and public figures pay for showing the blandest of support for Pride (see here and here for some good analysis of that) and while it hasn’t quite reached the same fever pitch up in our city, you can see it in the background — made-up rumours about kitty litter in the bathrooms at schools are being swapped around town, the implication of child abuse has been tossed about — it’s tough to say how much momentum it has, but it’s there. And while it could be easy for those of who this doesn’t affect directly to sit on the sidelines it’s important to remember that this isn’t about putting up a rainbow when it’s easy to do so, it’s about showing up when it isn’t easy. And that’s not just a parade, it’s pushing back at false narratives and paying attention to what’s going on around us in both the city and the wider world to be aware of what’s coming and taking the steps to continue building on what other people createed before, under more difficult circumstances — before we go back there again.

Quick news:

• City of Prince George developing event sponsorship policy following the minor brouhaha over Cariboo Rocks the North.

• PG over three degrees warmer than normal during May.

• Prince George school district facing lack of school psychologists.

• City council to seek greater transparency regarding numbered companies.

• City council to study adding protected bike lanes to capital plan.

• Disc golf course planned at Ecole College Heights.

• Baking and Pastry Arts class approved for PGSS students.

• B.C. government sets aside $17 million for wild salmon restoration.

• Northern Health workers to benefit from enlarged whistleblower legislation.

• Northern Health's virtual clinic providing medical expertise/treatment for patients.

• Treasure Cove hosting lemonade stand fundraiser Saturday.

• Conifex to halt sawmill operations in Mackenzie June 5.

• Local firefighters bid goodbye to an old friend.

• Trench Fest.

• Papapalooza.

• Late lilacs!

• Here’s an AI generated version of Prince George:Northern Capital News is a free, daily newsletter about life in Prince George. Please consider subscribing or, if you have, sharing with someone else.Subscribe nowShareSend feedback by replying to this email. Find me online at akurjata.ca.