The stories that landed at #7 and #6 of our countdown both feature local politicians – one honours a former local politician, the other discusses the Federal election candidates. As always, politics is a hot topic, whether it’s municipal, provincial or federal.
#7 – Mayor who turned Fort St. John’s fortunes around awarded Freedom of the City
Like a lot of people who come to Fort St. John, when Steve Thorlakson moved here in 1979, he came here for a job. As manager at the TD Bank, Thorlakson had no plans to run for council, to become mayor or solve the city’s infrastructure issues, he just came here to work.
And as he drove into town from the airport on that August day, he was shocked at the state of the city.
“It was ugly. It was lumps of gumbo everywhere, it looked dirty, it looked crummy. And I thought, it’s a place that I guess I can live for a year.”
Now, over four decades later, not only has Thorlakson now spent more than half his life in the city, but he has played a key role in turning the fortunes of the community around.
That role began when he left the TD Bank in 1980 and joined Falkenberg Agencies. Thorlakson also joined the Chamber of Commerce, and by 1984 Thorlakson was the vice-president of the Chamber, and his friend Peter Vandergugten was the president. The Chamber was nearly bankrupt at the time, with $60,000 in debt and the local economy was in dire straits.
“We had 40 percent residential vacancies, 40 percent commercial vacancies – you could’ve fired a cannonball down 100 Avenue and not hit anything at rush hour,” he said.
So, Thorlakson and Vandergugten decided to try to turn things around. Giving back to the community and trying to make things better for others became a passion for Thorlakson.
Within two years, the pair had gotten the Chamber out of debt, increased the membership for 140 to 400 and turned their attention to the city itself.
“We thought that we could make the same difference at the city as we made at the Chamber.”
#6 – Election 2025 – First Impressions Matter
Election debate season is upon us. Less than a week to go now until Election Day and with the first Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies riding debate over, and two more coming up on Wednesday and Thursday, in Prince George and online, it’s time to look at the first debate and how the candidates might improve the impressions they have on voters.
Like the October provincial candidates’ debate, there was a candidate missing on April 15th.
Just four of the five registered candidates showed up, each with different party policies to uphold and use to convince us that they’re the best choice. Except for the Liberal candidate, Peter Njenga.
The absence of the Liberal candidate last Tuesday wasn’t at all surprising. After-all, at the provincial candidates’ debate, the guy parachuted in by the incumbent government couldn’t be bothered to grace us with his presence then either. It appears that in recent times, whichever “left leaning” party is in power in either BC or Canada, doesn’t care what we think. Or maybe they think they won’t win, so they don’t bother wasting all that time and money campaigning here.
But it robs us of a full slate of choices. I’m sure there are people in the North Peace who would like to vote Liberal, and now they must do so without hearing from their candidate.
First impressions are important. By not showing up to what is essentially a job interview, as NDP candidate Corey Grizz Longley characterized the debate, Njenga is not making a good first impression.
A debate is the candidates’ chance to tell the public, the voters, why they should be given the job of representing us in Ottawa.
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