A massive wildfire conference is in town this weekend
And Jim Good is getting an honourary degree
Thanks to everyone who sent me notes of positivity after the negative newsletter yesterday. I wasn’t fishing for compliments but I know how to get them, now.
It’s decidedly more upbeat today:
Prince George is about to host a massive wildfire event
This is a news release sent out to local media yesterday:
The Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit (WRTS) is an important five-day event that will attract more than 650 members of the B.C. FireSmart community, including First Nation members, local governments, the Province of B.C., fire departments, local FireSmart representatives, wildfire mitigation specialists, firefighters, researchers, emergency managers, wildfire scientists, and industry partners.
The Summit will kick off with two days of training for B.C. firefighting professionals, followed by a three-day in-person conference at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre. The conference offers a range of informative workshops and expert panels led by captivating wildfire resiliency leaders that will help professionals prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.
The theme for this year’s event is “recover, rebuild, prepare,” which recognizes the importance of resilience after experiencing unprecedented wildfires, rebuilding communities with FireSmart principles in mind, and preparing for future wildfire activity.
It kicks off Saturday and Sunday with the training, followed by the conference which includes talks from speakers from across the country — academics and frontline responders on the latest information in wildfire supression and management.
Here’s a promo video:
Jim Good of Goodsir Nature Park is getting an honourary degree
Good is the founder of Goodsir Nature Park, a 160-acre botanical park featuring more than 3,000 plant species and tranquil walking trails located just north of Prince George. A true labour of love, the park was the realization of a dream when it opened to the public in 1989 and has served as Good’s ongoing commitment to share his passion for botany and nature with others.
Diagnosed with autism at an early age, Good credits early camping trips with his parents with cultivating an insatiable curiosity about trees and plants that has been a fulfilling lifetime focus as a hobby botanist.
“Growing up in Vancouver, I began collecting plant samples as a young boy of six or seven and by the time I was 13, I knew that I wanted to buy land someday,” says Good. “In 1973, I moved to Prince George to be closer to nature and I set my sights on opening a park and sharing my interests with others.”
With the goal of becoming a custodian of the land always in the forefront, Good says he lived wisely on a janitor’s salary — buying the perfect parcel, initially homesteading as he single-handedly crafted the park, and raising his family there while altruistically giving back to the community.
Showcasing a national collection trees, plants, flowers and other botanical species collected by Good during two cross-country road trips, the park is also home to a picnic area, overnight campsite and two museums.
I have met him a handful of times over the years and my parents knew him in his role as a custodian — he’s a truly lovely person and Goodsir Nature Park is a true labour of love. This couldn’t happen to a nicer person, with the degree being presented on May 31.
The Cougars win streak is over
It apparently felt like a home game for the Cougars as fans of the team traveled to Kelowna to cheer them on. Unfortunately, no dice on a second series sweep — the Rockets have forced a game 5.
News roundup:
Clean-up work is underway at the explosion site beside the Wood Innovation and Development Centre (I also saw this with my own two eyes).
Ultrasound machine delivered to remote Tsay Keh Dene Nation.
Timberwolves men’s soccer boosting their defence with new committment.
Tire Stewardship BC recycling old tires at upcoming Junk in the Trunk sale.
Today’s song:
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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.