That time Mr. PG dressed in a tutu and made the mayor uncomfortable
"We might expect something like this in San Francisco"
(source)
In 2019, when the world was a different place, I posted a meme-format “in this essay I will” tweet abour Mr. PG becoming “woke”, later writing, “Mr. PG is a LGBTQ+ ally who embraces multiculturalism, I am sure he is considering his role as a settler on unceded land and how best to move forward in light of hearing perspectives he'd not previously considered.”
That was the tone of Twitter at the time! Things are different now. But it turns out that Mr. PG has actually been at the forefront of some of these issues for longer than I thought. In today’s newsletter, that time Mr. PG made the mayor and apparently two-thirds of the city uncomfortable by refusing to adhere to gender norms.
It probably goes without saying, but this post definitely reflects 1980s attitudes toward sex and gender.
And credit to Ron David on Facebook who sent me down this rabbithole after posting this article from the Prince George Citizen archives:
Prince George Citizen, 1987
Image-makers
Poor Mr. PG.
Year after year he stands solitary watch over all the traffic passing through Prince George, and the first time he’s dressed up for a community activity the objections fly.
Mayor John Backhouse is upset that the nine-metre official symbold of the city was decked out in a ballerina’s tutu to promote Disocover the Arts Week. “I feel really uncomfortable about,” he said after Monday’s city council meeting.
We’re certain the mayor was joking.
Surely nobody can object to the pinning of a tu-tu on Mr. PG; that doesn’t make him — it — effeminate, and it certainly isn’t any worse than leaving him at the corner of Highways 16 and 97 for the past 25 years with no clothes at all.
I looked it up and the mayor being mad about this was actually a front page story:
Mr. PG in drag ‘irks’ mayor
Mr. P.G. in drag?
The sight of the hard-hatted city symbol reduced to wearing a frilly ballerina’s tu-tu Monday has Mayor John Backhouse upset.
“I feel really uncomfortable about it,” he said following Monday’s Prince George city council meeting.
“Council’s permission was not sought or given and it came as a complete surprise to me when I saw it on the front page of the Citizen. I can tell you, it’s not one of my favorite pictures,” said the Prince George mayor.
The nine-metre (about three storeys high) fibreglass man, designed 27 years ago to represent this area’s lumbering and logging industry, was dressed in the female garb Monday to promote Discover the Arts Week in Prince George. The city’s symbol was decked out with artificial breasts and given a pair of ballerina shoes to complete his ensemble.
Backhouse said he will ask city administration to find out how it happened, but the mayor won’t have far to look to get his answer.
Ron David, chairman of Discover the Arts Week, said today permission was received from city engineer Ernie Obst.
“I couldn’t get hold of the mayor, but I talked to three alderman — Bob Harkins, Art Stauble and Steve Sintich about the idea. None of them expressed any opposition, but said I should talk to Ernie Obst or (city manager) Chester Jeffery,” David said.
David noted he also checked with the Prince George Visitor and Con- vention Bureau where Mr. P.G. is located.
Aid. Monica Becott, an advocate of the arts and cultural events, told the Citizen the sight was a surprise to her.
“I was aware they (arts week organizers) intended to dress him up, but I was under the impression he would be dressed as a French painter with a beret, an easel and a paint brush,” she said.
However, she doesn’t agree that council’s permission was needed to use him for the promotion.
“Mr. P.G. is on the visitor and convention bureau site and it’s up to them,” she said.
And here’s how the story ended:
Well, not quite. The Citizen conducted an informal poll to find out how people felt about this and the answer was not exactly progressive:
From a survey of 24 people, found in their offices, places of business or homes, as well as those shopping or stopped in the streets, no one admitted they disliked the nine-metre-tall man designed 27 years ago to represent the forest industry.
However, the younger set, those in their 20s and 30s, portrayed more of a “couldn’t-care-less” attitude than pioneer or long-time residents.
When asked their opinion about Mr. P.G. recently being dressed in a ballerina costume to promote Discover the Arts Week, 15 people said they disapproved, were embarrassed or felt disgusted, disgraced or ridiculed.
Only three believed it was okay to put him in a dress and ballerina slippers, four said said the incident didn’t mean a thing to them, one said we’ve outgrown him and another said the incident left a queasy feeling.
Long-time resident and businessman Wally West voiced one of the stronger opinions. “When I saw that (costume) I thought,”My , God, what are we coming to? It was a blinking disgrace to those who originated Mr. P.G. Nobody has ever mocked him before and I happen to know that people in other countries who have replicas cherish them because they’re so unique.
“The minds behind such a stunt didn’t consider the history of Prince George nor what this community stands for,” he said.
On the other hand, former mayor Harold Moffat admitted although he’s always had an anti-women attitude when it comes to civic politics, the ballerina stunt “shows at least somebody is doing something.”
The arts people always have an uphill battle and this “showed a bit of ingenuity.”
Moffat said he’s a natural supporter of the symbol.
“I’m the one who came up with the idea for him after seeing the State of Oregon’s Paul Bunyan.”
Hans Roine (mill owner) created the first one out of wood for a Rotary convention back about 1960 and the idea ballooned from there, he said.
But as far as city council adding rules and regulations for Mr. P.G.’s future, Moffat said, “Forget it. Council has more now than can ever be enforced.”
Judge George Stewart, known for his colorful quotes, didn’t let us down with his tongue-in-cheek opinion.
“I think on matters of such great social significance, consultation should be held even up to the level of Buckingham Palace,” he said.
Faye Croft, office manager at Prince George Art Gallery said the idea by Discover the Arts organizers “was great.”
“We got so much publicity through it, but I think city council should implement some regulations so residents aren’t embarrassed in the future.”
Resident Brenda Matthews said she can’t see any harm in dressing Mr. P.G. to promote community events and occasions except where a racial slur or a personal grudge or vendetta is intended.
But those in the forest industry like Mr. P.G. just the way he is.
Frank Drougel, manager of the Central Interior Logging Association, said what Mr. P.G. stands for should not be taken lightly.
“He’s had a high profile all these years and has been a credit to our community as the symbol of the forest industry.”
Drougel said Mr. P.G. represents 602 logging contractors which have an average investment of $336,000 and who hire an average of 7.4 workers per year.
“That’s the message he represents here and he’s much too complex to be dolled up by the arts people,” he said.
Greg Jadrzyk, vice-president and general manager of Council of Forest Industries, Northern Interior Lumber Sector, said the ballerina costume “looked ridiculous.”
“He should be used for the purpose he was designed for — the symbol of the Prince George forest industry. To put him in a dress with ballerina slippers was degrading and disgusting.
“I was shocked when I drove by and saw him and I’m sure any tourists driving by probably had a good laugh,” he said.
College of New Caledonia principal Charles McCaffray believes the town may have outgrown the symbol.
“I think Mr. P.G. was very useful and appropriate when Prince George was a small logging town, but I’m also very proud of the work done to make us the capital of the north. I think we’ve outgrown him.”
Prince George Regional Hospital executive director Allan Husband believes Mr. P.G. is a fine symbol for the city, but “that tutu did nothing for the credibility or reputation of this community.”
Young adults like Cindy Borrowman and Denny Astorino said it really doesn’t make any diference to them, while Willis Vincent said he has “better things to do with his time” (than comment) and Richard Andrews said anyone who worried about or made an issue about the dress is ridiculous, in his opinion.
“It’s just a joke,” he said.
Prince George born resident Lois Crossan said the dress-up incident made her “feel queazy.”
“We might expect something like this in San Francisco, but not in this robust place. I’m sure it offended and insulted a lot of older residents.”
Marg McLcichlan found it “rather funny” that such a fuss was created, but admitted she likes Mr. P.G. best just as he is with no frills added.
Pioneer resident and historian Ted Williams, looking at the practical side, said it “might have been expected he’d be stripped (of his dress).”
“Anything easily removed shouldn’t be attached because it just invites vandalism,” he said, referring to the act of vandalism in which the costume was partially torn and had to be removed before Discover the Arts Week was completed.
Stand tall, Mr. PG.
Birdman memories
This popped up in my Facebook memories — the time one of the most ridiculous news stories I ever broke became a news quiz item in the UK newspaper the Guardian:
Deadfall gets crowned
The winner of last year’s Canada Beer Cup, Prince George’s Deadfall Brewing, came home from this year’s awards with multiple crowns — two golds, a silver and a bronze.
News roundup:
RCMP have made an arrest in a homicide that happened last year — one of two that occurred over two days in July, and one of eight that happened in 2023 total.
PG paramedics have responded to 1,466 drug overdose calls since January 1st.
Steep learning curve ahead for newly elected Prince George-area MLAs.
Council endorses bid to create mental health hospital in Prince George.
The Northern B.C. Construction Association wants a Ministry of Construction to be created.
A discussion on what proportional representation might mean for provincial elections in the north.
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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.
**On the other hand, former mayor Harold Moffat admitted although he’s always had an anti-women attitude when it comes to civic politics, **
I can't believe I was 16 going on 17 and this was actually something people would admit to in local media. I mean, I was an Okanagan teen but I'm sure I could dig up the Penticton Herald archives and find similar quotes. Yeesh.
Also, now you're giving me ideas for Halloween work outfits. My forestry field gear and a tutu? Perhaps combined with my other idea of a childless cat lady theme?
hmmmmm